There should be a list of emergency contact information and emergency procedures posted at areas where radioactive substances are stored and used and at entrances. Contacts should include radiation safety office (RSO), public safety, environmental health and safety (EHS) and fire department and ambulance services.This serves as a guideline to what must be done when facing such situation.
In case of emergency, it is important to notify the radiation safety officer and he or she can carry out proper procedure for decontamination and decide on whether to take further actions. It is also necessary to notify all staffs working in the room so that they are aware of the situation. No one is allowed to enter the restricted room or resume their work unless the RSO approves. Always keep calm and evacuate the areas in a orderly manner to prevent any chaos.
For personnel decontamination, affected area should be washed with warm water and soap. Avoid scrubbing the skin as it will cause abrasion which breaks the skin and lead to internal contamination. If there is a wound at the affected area, flush it to remove the contaminants. Seek medical treatment or call 995 if it is fatal. Carefully remove the contaminated clothing and place it in a plastic bag or on absorbent paper. Inform the RSO and administer first aid if injury is serious. The safety of the personnel is the top priority, followed by decontamination.
When dealing with spillage, use absorbent material like paper towels to absorb the spillage to prevent the spillage from spreading. Use a decontamination solution such as RadiacWash or IsoClean or a strong detergent to clean the area with paper towel. Wiping should be done from outward to inward so as to prevent the contaminants from spreading. All waste materials should be properly disposed into a radioactive waste container. Ensure that the clean-up is done while wearing proper protective equipment and gloves.
If there is a spillage of solid radioactive substances, use an appropriate equipment to pick up the substances and dispose them into a radioactive waste container. The following decontamination procedures are similar to the liquid spillage. No personnel are allowed to work in the area until approved by RSO.
For emergencies that involve radiation in the form of dusts or gas, all personnel should evacuate the room immediately and close all windows to prevent the radioactive particles from escaping into the environment. Hold your breath to avoid inhaling the gas. Notify the RSO. Lock the door after leaving the room and place a notice at the entrance to inform people that no one is allowed back into the room until approval is given by the RSO.
If over exposure to radiation is suspected or ingested the radioactive materials, inform the RSO or public safety immediately to seek immediate medical treatment.
Minor spill- Less than 1.0mCi (millicurie). Notify all personnel and limit the number of people doing decontamination. Use survey meter to mark the contaminated area for identification and to assess the radioactivity after decontamination to ensure that everything is completely removed. The methods of decontamination are similar to liquid and solid spills. Inform RSO as well. May or may not need to contact EHS.
Major spill- More than 1.0mCi. Notify and evacuate personnel. Those potentially contaminated should be confined to prevent contamination from spreading and seek medical treatment. Contact EHS and decontamination is done under their supervision.
Minor spill- Less than 1.0mCi (millicurie). Notify all personnel and limit the number of people doing decontamination. Use survey meter to mark the contaminated area for identification and to assess the radioactivity after decontamination to ensure that everything is completely removed. The methods of decontamination are similar to liquid and solid spills. Inform RSO as well. May or may not need to contact EHS.
Major spill- More than 1.0mCi. Notify and evacuate personnel. Those potentially contaminated should be confined to prevent contamination from spreading and seek medical treatment. Contact EHS and decontamination is done under their supervision.
Click on this link to watch a video on how decontamination is done on the skin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61JbKfrzI0U
Click to watch how spillage is handled http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ggHTQWBXo
Reference
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