The evolution of a radiation safety audit program for a research institution.

Possibly two of the greatest challenges of a radiation safety program are to ensure that all regulatory requirements are being met and to involve the users in maintaining compliance. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), the radiation safety office has developed an audit program that accomplishes these two challenges for the FHCRC ionizing radiation safety program, which has resulted in quality improvements in the laboratory environment and culminated in an excellent State inspection.