E-Response

General Procedures

Loss, Theft, Damage

Minor Spills

Major Spills

Exposure

General Power Failure

General Procedures

1. Evaluate the accident and call for help.  The first person to observe the accident should try to quickly estimate the severity of the situation and evacuate personnel to a safe place such as an assembly or check point.  The Radiation Safety Officer and the facility supervisor should be notified as soon as possible.
   
2. Confine the hazard.   If possible, secure the area and stand in a safe area nearby to provide information and assistance.  Reduce the spread of contamination by limiting travel from the area and by checking yourself and the area for contamination.
   
3. Protect Personnel.  Warn other persons in the immediate vicinity and assist any persons who may be contaminated or injured.
   
4. If the situation requires additional assistance, emergency action personnel who have been notified of the situation will take over after this first phase of the accident.  They will prescribe additional action to be taken and begin restoration to normal operating conditions.

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  Loss, Theft or Damage to a Source of Radioactive Material
If a radioactive source is lost, stolen, or damaged, notify the RSO immediately!

Minor Spills (Spills which result in dose rates<5mR/hr 30 cm from source and does not contain volatile mat >10mCi material.):

1. NOTIFY: Notify the people in the area that a spill has occurred.
   
2. REPORT: Report incident to the Radiation Safety Office (x3372).
   
3. PREVENT THE SPREAD: Cover the spill with absorbent material, and prevent access to the area by unauthorized personnel.
   
4. CLEAN UP: Use disposable gloves and remote handling tongs. Carefully fold the absorbent material. Insert into a plastic bag and dispose of in the radioactive waste container.  Also insert into the plastic bag all other contaminated materials such as disposable gloves.
   
5. SURVEY: With a low range, thin window G-M survey instrument, check the area around the spill, hands, and clothing for contamination. For alpha and low-energy beta emitters, conduct wipe tests at the spill area. All survey records must be maintained by the Authorized User.                          

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Major Spills (Spills which result in dose rates ³ 5 mR/hr 30 cm from source OR   spills containing >10mCi of volatile material):

1. CLEAR THE AREA: Notify all persons not involved in the spill to vacate the room.  Notify the shift supervisor of the spill.
   
2. CALL FOR HELP: Notify the Radiation Safety Office (x3372) or the University Police (x2911) immediately.
   
3. PREVENT THE SPREAD: If possible, cover the spill with absorbent material, but do not attempt to clean it up. Confine the movement of all personnel potentially contaminated to prevent the spread.
   
4. SHIELD THE SOURCE: If possible, the spill should be shielded, but only if it can be done without further contamination or without significantly increasing radiation exposure.
   
5. CLOSE THE ROOM: Leave the room and lock the door(s) to prevent entry.
   
6. PERSONNEL DECONTAMINATION: Contaminated clothing should be removed and stored for further evaluation by the RSO. If the spill is on the skin, flush thoroughly and then wash with mild soap and lukewarm water. Injured persons should have first aid performed as necessary and decontaminated. If life-threatening injuries are present, the individual should be given immediate life-saving first aid and transported to a hospital for further medical treatment regardless of any contamination present. The hospital should be given prior notification that the patient may be contaminated so that appropriate controls can be implemented.

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Exposure to Sources of Radiation
Terminate the source of exposure and prevent others from being exposed. Use additional shielding as needed. Notify the Radiation Safety Office so the nature and extent of exposure can be determined and, if a severe exposure is suspected, seek medical attention.

General Power Failure or Fume Hood Blower Failure
During a loss of power, a laboratory which possesses radioactive material that must be maintained in a fume hood or stored in a refrigerated condition could result in the spread of airborne contamination.  The following procedures should be followed:

1. CLEAR THE AREA:  Notify all persons to vacate the restricted area.  Notify the RSO or designee if necessary.
   
2. HAVE A SURVEY PERFORMED BY THE RSO OR DESIGNEE: After the power is restored, use an appropriate survey instrument to check the area in vicinity of the fume hood or radioactive material storage area. Take swipe tests of the area of concern.  Check the airflow into the hood.
   
3. RETURN TO THE AREA:  If no abnormal reading were found, proceed with CLEAN UP and SURVEY steps as stated above in MINOR SPILLS.

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