|
THE
ORCBS > Radiation
Safety
> Radiation
Safety Manual
>
 Handling
Radioactive Incidents/Emergencies
Incidents may occur
during the use of radioactive materials, such as spills, accidental
releases into the air, contamination of the worker or the work area,
and numerous other possible problems. When an incident occurs, the
worker must first make a judgment as to whether the incident is a
minor incident, major incident or emergency. Subsequent actions
are based on this decision.
A minor
incident with radioactive materials is an abnormal occurrence
involving low amounts of radioactive materials, where the worker
handling the spill knows how to clean it up, has the decontamination
materials on hand, and can respond without incurring risk of exposures
or spreading within a reasonably short time.
A major
incident is an abnormal occurrence involving high amounts of
radioactive materials, high risk nuclides, large areas contaminated,
contamination of the skin, airborne radioactivity, or any situation
where contamination may have been spread outside the authorized
area. Major spills must be reported to the Radiation Safety
Officer or his/her designee immediately, as required by federal
law. Call the ORCBS during working hours; dial 911 during non working
hours.
An emergency
is an incident which involves serious injury or death, fire, explosion,
or significant release of a health or life threatening material,
which is or may be coupled with a minor or major radiological incident.
DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY IF AN EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED!!
In the event
of a MINOR incident, these procedures should be followed:
- Notify the
principal investigator and persons in the area that an incident
has occurred.
- Contain the
spill. Cover with absorbent paper or dike with absorbent.
- Isolate the
area to prevent unnecessary spread and personnel exposures.
- Survey using
the appropriate monitoring equipment in order to evaluate the
presence of contamination on an individual's skin and clothing
and on lab equipment. If skin or clothing contamination is present,
a major spill has occurred. Contact the ORCBS immediately.
- Using disposable
gloves, carefully fold up the absorbent paper and pad and deposit
in an appropriate radioactive waste container.
- Survey the
area of the spill to determine the extent.
- Decontaminate
the spill using decontaminant detergent (available from General
Stores), and resurvey.
- Continue
step 7 until the area is decontaminated completely.
- Document
spill in radiation survey log book.
In the event
of a MAJOR incident, the following procedure should be instituted:
- Notify all
persons in the area that a major spill or incident has occurred
and evacuate unnecessary personnel. Notify the principal investigator.
- If possible,
prevent the spreading of the radioactive material by using absorbent
paper. Do not attempt to clean it up. Confine all potentially
contaminated individuals in order to prevent the further spread
of contamination.
- If possible,
shield the source, but only if it can be done without significantly
increasing your radiation exposure.
- Leave the
affected room and lock the doors in order to prevent entry. Attempt
to prevent further contamination or spreading to unrestricted
areas. (Hallways, non-radiation laboratories, etc., are unrestricted
areas.)
- Contact the
Radiation Safety Officer if the spill occurs during normal work
hours. Call the Department of Police and Public Safety, 911, after
normal working hours.
- Remove all
contaminated clothing and await instructions concerning cleanup
from the Radiation Safety Officer.
- If skin contamination
has occurred, measure levels of contamination with a survey meter,
record, and begin decontamination by gentle washing with warm
water and soap, washing downwards towards extremities, not upwards.
In the event
of an EMERGENCY in which radioactive materials are involved,
the following procedure should be instituted:
- Notify all
persons in the area that an EMERGENCY has occurred and evacuate
the area if a risk to persons present exists.
- Dial 911
and NOTIFY of the nature emergency, using the reporting guidelines
previously listed in this section.
- AWAIT THE
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS who will assist and provide direction, as
well as contact any other necessary responders.
All incidents
involving radioactive materials must be reported as soon as possible
to the principal investigator. If the principal investigator is
not available, notify the ORCBS, who will advise and assist with
the problem.
Decontaminating
Radioactive Material
Radiation
Safety Manual Table of Contents
|
