RSA Organizational Guidelines

Organizational Guidelines

The Radiation Safety Advisory Group (RSAG) is a standing subcommittee of The University of Texas System (UT System) Environmental Health and Safety Advisory Committee (EHSAC). The RSAG will base its by-laws on the following organizational guidelines:

  1. Each Institution will be represented on the RSAG by the Radiation Safety Officer(s) (RSO), Associate Radiation Safety Officer(s), Laser Safety Officer(s) (LSO), Reactor Health Physicist (HP), or their designees.  Each RSO, LSO, HP, or designee will have one vote for actions requiring RSAG approval.
  2. The RSAG will select from its membership a Chair to serve for a period of two consecutive calendar years. The Chair's term of office shall begin at the start of the academic year. Concomitantly, the RSAG will select from its membership a Chair-elect who will serve for a period of two years and succeed the Chair for a two-year term. The Chair-elect will serve as the Vice-Chair and Recording Secretary. The RSAG Chair and Chair-elect shall not be from the same Institution. The selection of the Chair and Chair-elect shall be subject to the approval of the EHSAC. Upon the resignation of the Chair, the Vice-Chair will immediately occupy the position of Chair and an election will be held before or at the next meeting for Chair-elect.
  3. The RSAG will meet at least two times each academic year at the call of the Chair. In case of the need for an emergency meeting, the EHSAC will be notified at the time the RSAG members are notified. When possible, meetings will be scheduled in conjunction with meetings of a chapter of the Health Physics Society, the UT System, or other appropriate professional organizations active in the state. Meeting minutes will be taken, and distributed to the membership of the RSAG prior to the next meeting date. Meetings may be held by electronic means or in person.
  4. The UT System representative on the RSAG will be the principal liaison between the RSAG and the UT System. Recommendations of the RSAG will be brought to the EHSAC by the Chair of the RSAG and, as necessary and appropriate, will be brought to the attention of the UT System by the UT System representative. At each meeting of EHSAC, the Chair of the RSAG or the Chair's delegate, shall present a report of the activities of the RSAG. The report may be given in person, in writing, by teleconference, or by video teleconference at the discretion of the Chair of the RSAG. A presentation of the report in person may be requested by either the Chair of the EHSAC or the Chair of the RSAG, in which event the report shall be made in person.
  5. The RSAG will develop a mission statement to support the need for and desirability of maintaining the RSAG as a standing subcommittee of the EHSAC. The RSAG is authorized to make independent judgments and take action independent of the EHSAC that affects System-wide activities regarding radiation safety provided that:
    • The Chair of the EHSAC is notified in writing that such action will be taken at least ten working days before such action is taken, and;
    • Any action that will materially impact the budget of the Environmental Health and Safety office at any institution is approved by the leadership (VP, AVP, Director) of such office.