Radiation Safety

FOLLOWING THE CERTIFICATION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE IN THE LAB GOES OVER RADIATION SAFETY PROTOCOLS WITH NEW EMPLOYEES, OR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH RADIATION. Every lab has different procedures for handling radiation and personnel are to be informed with these practices and follow them.

If radiation is not handled properly you can:

Harm yourself and coworkers
The Radiation Safety Office can impose heavy fines on the lab and even revoke the lab's license to use radiation

General Procedures

Dress appropriately when working with radiation. A long disposable gown should be worn over your clothes. This gown is not to be worn outside of the radiation lab. Wear long clothing to afford maximum protection.
No open-toed shoes are to be worn in the lab
Wear double gloves and change gloves frequently
Use aerosol resistant tips or barrier tips while working with radiation
Use Lucite shields when working with alpha and beta emitters to avoid direct exposure. For gamma emitters use lead or special plastic designated for that work.
Organize your workspace:
Line your bench with blue pads.
Have appropriate shielded, disposal containers at arm's length.
Gloves should be easily accessible.
A Geiger counter must be on at all times while working with radioactive materials.
Periodically scan your gloves with the Geiger counter. This is important after you have finished working with the radioactive materials. Scan your work area including equipment, pipettes, ice-buckets, shields, blue pads, boxes, bottles, etc.
Anything that is above the background that is disposable should be placed in the appropriate radiation waste containers.
All non-disposable items must be decontaminated as described below
- Freshly contaminated objects must be sprayed with Radcon, let it sit a few seconds and wipe with a paper towel. Dispose of anything in contact with Radcon, such as the towel in radiation trash.
If radiation seeps into or under the surface of an object, decontamination is more difficult, but try a combination of Radcon, soaking is hot soapy water (using a cleaning agent such as Sparkleen)
- Radiation Spills can be handled as mentioned above. However, if you think the spill is much larger and cannot be taken care of by simple decontamination, contact the Radiation Safety Office for assistance.