Radioactive Spills

Spills of radioactive materials can occur at any time. If you have any doubt about your ability to clean up a spill involving radioactive materials, call the Office of Radiation Safety for assistance at extension 44913 or 911. If you have determined that the spill can be managed by individuals in your lab, there are several steps you can take to ensure a timely and thorough clean-up of the contamination:

• Notify everyone in the area that a spill of radioactive material has occurred.

• Try to prevent further spread of the spilled material with paper towels or other absorbent materials, but only if this can be done with minimal risk of spreading the contamination or contaminating yourself.

• Assemble clean-up materials which include paper towels, plastic bags, gloves, lab coats, radiation survey meter, and cleaning solution (soapy water works well in most cases).

• Determine the extent of the contamination and mark the boundaries with tape, rope, etc.

• Starting from the least contaminated areas, work inward toward the most contaminated area of the spill. Clean each area as you proceed.

• Periodically check the cleaned area with either your survey meter or by taking wipes and counting them in an appropriate counter (e.g., liquid scintillation counter). Clean until all removable contamination is removed. Be aware that widespread contamination can cause high background levels that can make it difficult to localize areas of contamination.

• In the event of personnel contamination, rinse and wash the contaminated area immediately with copious amounts of water and a mild soap. In some instances, several washings may be required. If the contamination cannot be reduced to background levels, call the Office of Radiation Safety for further assistance. Do not use harsh detergents or stiff brushes to remove contamination from skin.

 Previous | TOC | Next