Radioisotope Safety Permits

How to Apply for Radioisotope Safety Permits, Renewals, and Applications 

The Research Safety Committee reviews all research and teaching projects involving use of radioactive and potentially hazardous materials to ensure compliance with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulations. Additionally, principal investigators must have a valid radioisotope safety certificate permit for the acquisition and purchase of radioactive materials. 

To apply for a Radioisotope Safety Certificate permit, follow the below steps:

  1. Seek prior approval from your Department Head for the location of the licensed storage area.

  2. Ensure that all radioisotope users have the appropriate training.

  3. Complete the Radioisotope Permit Application through the ERSO Portal

    • Refer to the ERSO Guide for Researchers for reference about completing your application through ERSO or watch the How-to Video on the bottom of this page. 

    • If you have any radioisotope safety related questions for your application, please consult with the Radiation Safety Officer by contacting ccc@uwindsor.ca.

    • If you experience any technical issues with ERSO, please contact the Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS) at erso@uwindsor.ca

  4. When your application has been submitted through ERSO, it will move to the "Applications: Under Review" folder. Once it has moved to this folder, you may view your submission, but edits cannot be made to the application. The Radiation Safety Officer will conduct an initial file audit of the application to identify any potential issues. Once satisfied, the Radiation Safety Officer will forward the application to the Research Safety Committee for vetting.

  5. The Research Safety Committee will review the application and may approve, conditionally approve, or defer the application.

    • If you receive a deferral decision, address outstanding conditions, and consult with the committee and the Radiation Safety Officer.

    • If you receive a conditional approval, address the minor changes, and resubmit application to the committee for final approval.

    • Once approved, you will receive an email notifying you of the decision, with a copy sent to the Radiation Safety Officer and Environmental Health and Safety Manager. You can view your approved application in ERSO under the "Applications: Post Review" folder. 

  6. A copy of the radioisoptope safety permit will be sent to the Principal Investigator to print and display in their facility and the University of Windsor Certification Management System (ERSO) will be updated to reflect the new permit. 

If a Radioisotope Safety Certificate permit needs to be amended, follow the below steps:

  1. Complete the Amendment to Radioisotope Safety Permit form through the ERSO Portal

    • Click on the “Applications: Post Review” folder. Click the “Events” button on the application you wish to amend. 

    • Under the “Create New Event” heading, select the "Amendment to Radioisotope Permit" form.

    • Fill in the required information and outline the changes being made to your permit. 

    • Click the “Submit” button. Indicate any further comments, if required, in the pop-up comment box, and then click submit. 

    • Refer to the How-to Video on the bottom of this page for further guidance. 

  2. When your amendment has been submitted through ERSO, you can view it under the “Applications: Post Review” folder. Click the “Events” button on the application in which you submitted the amendment. You will then see your submitted amendment under the “Events: Under Review” folder. The Radiation Safety Officer will conduct an initial file audit of the amendment to identify any potential issues. Once satisfied, the Radiation Safety Officer will forward the amendment to the Research Safety Committee for vetting.

    • If there are reviewer comments, you will see them under the header "Events: Requiring Attention" on the ERSO homepage, and it will be highlighted in red.

    • Click on "Events: Requiring Attention", and then click "Events" under the corresponding file. 

    • Select the "Latest Workflow" button under the "Events Requiring Attention" folder. You will then be able to view the comments under the "Logs" tab. 

    • Make the requested edits in the application, and click "Re-Submit." Indicate any further comments, if required, in the pop-up comment box, and then click submit. 

  3. The Research Safety Committee will review the application and may approve, conditionally approve, or defer the application.  

    • If you receive a deferral decision, address outstanding conditions, and consult with the committee and the Radiation Safety Officer.

    • If you receive a conditional approval, address the minor changes, and resubmit application to the committee for final approval.

    • Once approved, you will receive an email notifying you of the decision, with a copy sent to the Radiation Safety Officer and Environmental Health and Safety Manager. You can view your approved amendment in ERSO under the “Applications: Post Review” folder. Click the “Events” button on the application in which you submitted the amendment. You will see your approved amendment under the “Events: Post Review” folder.

  4. A copy of the amended radioisotope safety permit will be sent to the Principal Investigator to print and display in their facility and the University of Windsor Certification Management System (ERSO) will be updated to reflect the new permit.

If you have any laser safety related questions for your application, please consult with the Radiation Safety Officer by contacting ccc@uwindsor.ca.

If you experience any technical issues with ERSO, please contact the Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS) at erso@uwindsor.ca

Internal radioisotope permits will list an expiry date on the certificate. If a certificate is set to expire, a renewal application is required and will need to be submitted to the Research Safety Committee at least two months before the expiration date for review and approval. To submit a radiation safety renewal, follow the below steps:

  1. Complete the Amendment to Radioisotope Safety Permit form through the ERSO Portal

    • Click on the “Applications: Post Review” folder. 

    • Click the “Events” button on the application you wish to renew. 

    • Under the “Create New Event” heading, select the "Amendment to Radioisotope Permit" form. 

    • Fill in the required information and outline the changes being made to your permit.

    • Click the “Submit” button. Indicate any further comments, if required, in the pop-up comment box, and then click submit. 

    • Refer to the How-to Video on the bottom of this page for further guidance. 

  2. When your renewal has been submitted through ERSO, you can view it under the “Applications: Post Review” folder. Click the “Events” button on the application in which you submitted the renewal. You will then see your submitted renewal under the “Events: Under Review” folder. The Radiation Safety Officer will conduct an initial file audit of the renewal to identify any potential issues. Once satisfied, the Radiation Safety Officer will forward the renewal to the Research Safety Committee for vetting. 

    • If there are reviewer comments, you will see them under the header "Events: Requiring Attention" on the ERSO homepage, and it will be highlighted in red.

    • Click on "Events: Requiring Attention", and then click "Events" under the corresponding file. 

    • Select the "Latest Workflow" button under the "Events Requiring Attention" folder. You will then be able to view the comments under the "Logs" tab. 

    • Make the requested edits in the application, and click "Re-Submit." Indicate any further comments, if required, in the pop-up comment box, and then click submit. 

  3. The Research Safety Committee will review the application and may approve, conditionally approve, or defer the application.  

    • If you receive a deferral decision, address outstanding conditions, and consult with the committee and the Radiation Safety Officer.

    • If you receive a conditional approval, address the minor changes, and resubmit application to the committee for final approval.

    • Once approved, you will receive an email notifying you of the decision, with a copy sent to the Radiation Safety Officer and Environmental Health and Safety Manager. You can view your approved renewal in ERSO under the “Applications: Post Review” folder. Click the “Events” button on the application in which you submitted the renewal, and you will see your approved renewal under the “Events: Post Review” folder.

  4. A copy of the renewed radioisotope safety permit will be sent to the Principal Investigator to print and display in their facility and the University of Windsor Certification Management System (ERSO) will be updated to reflect the new permit.

If you have any radioisotope safety related questions for your renewal, please consult with the Radiation Safety Officer by contacting ccc@uwindsor.ca.

If you experience any technical issues with ERSO, please contact the Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS) at erso@uwindsor.ca

Important Information about Radioisotope Safety Permits

Researchers should continue to follow the safety measures outlined in the Radiation Safety Manual (.pdf file) in addition to their approved safety protocol. 

If the Research Safety Committee finds that a principal investigator is not following their approved protocol, the committee reserves the right to suspend/revoke a previously approved certificate, which would suspend all research activities and access to research funds until further notice. It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that all the information included in their permit application is accurate. If a principal investigator wishes to cancel their permit, please notify the Research Safety Committee and Chemical Control Centre immediately by emailing rsc@uwindsor.ca and ccc@uwindsor.ca.  

ERSO How-To Videos

Contact the Research Safety Committee

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Research Safety Committee
Phone: (519) 253-3000 ext. 3923
Email: rsc@uwindsor.ca