Transcript RESPONDING TO A RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL INCIDENT IN THE …

2007 RADIATION SAFETY
REFRESHER TRAINING
RESPONDING TO A
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
INCIDENT IN THE LAB
It can happen to the best of us.
PRIOR TO BEGINNING ANY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL WORK
• Know the hazards and precautions
associated with the radionuclide(s) that
you are using.
• Inform all coworkers of your work and fill
them in on precautions that they must
take.
• Make sure that all cleaning and
decontamination materials are readily
available.
REMEMBER
• In the case of an injury ASSIST PEOPLE
FIRST
• The telephone number for Risk
Management and Safety is (63)1-5037.
This is for 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through
Friday.
• After hours, weekends, holidays, call ND
Security Dispatch at (63)1-5555.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE ITEMS
REQURED FOR LABS
• Our NRC License requires the following to
be present in in case of an emergency:
Disposable gloves
Housekeeping gloves
Disposable lab coats
Disposable head coverings
Items needed (continued)
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Disposable shoe covers
Absorbent paper with plastic backing
Masking tape
Plastic trash bags with twist ties
“Radioactive Material labeling tape
Marking pen
RAM labeling tags
Wipes
Items needed ( continued)
• Instructions for Emergency Procedures (in
Radiation Safety Manual)
• Clipboard and Spill Report Form
• Pencil
• Appropriate survey instrument, calibrated
and with batteries
• Most of these items should be in your lab.
If one or more is not, and is needed for
spill cleanup, it may be found in the spill
response kit for your location. Familiarize
yourself with its locations.
MINOR SPILLS
• Make everyone in the area aware of the possibly
contaminated area(s).
• Clean from area of least concentration to area of
greatest concentration.
• Regularly monitor yourself, the area (not just the places
that you know to be contaminated), and others in the
area. Monitor everyone before they leave the area.
• Dispose of all contaminated material into the appropriate
rad waste (long or short half-life, solids or sharps, etc.)
• Call Risk Management and Safety if you have questions
about clean-up procedure or if reduction of
contamination does not readily take place.
MAJOR SPILLS
• May include spillage of volatile material, or
mixed wastes.
• Follow same procedures as for minor spills for
clean-up. If there is a possible airborne release,
or if radiation levels may be high (>5 mR/hr),
evacuate the area without cleaning, and call
Risk Management and Safety immediately.
• To avoid spread of contamination, personnel in
the area of the spill, who do not require medical
attention, should not leave the general area until
released by Radiation Safety workers.
FIRE, EXPLOSION, OR
PERSONAL INJURY
• ASSIST INJURED PEOPLE FIRST.
• Call 911 and let the dispatcher know that radioactive
material may be involved in the incident.
• Inform emergency workers of the presence of radioactive
material.
• All materials, including bandages and other first aid
items, should be considered contaminated and treated
as radioactive waste.
• Make mental notes as to any areas where contamination
may have been spread (eg. ambulance), and inform the
Risk Management and Safety responder of those areas
so that they may be surveyed and, if necessary,
decontaminated.
FOLLOWING UP
• After cleaning the area and caring for all injured
personnel, make notes regarding the details of
the incident. It is helpful to do this while they are
still fresh in your mind.
• Regardless of the extent of contamination, a
final swipe and, if applicable, meter survey must
be conducted. Results of all tests must be
recorded in the log book. Cleaning must
continue until the swipes indicate levels <200
CPM/100 sq. cm. (<20 CPM/100 sq. cm. for
I-125.)
DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL
RISK MANAGEMENT AND
SAFETY AT ANY TIME ( AFTER
ASSISTING AN INJURED
PERSON)
• (63)1-5037 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through
Friday
(63)1-5555 after hours, weekends, and
holidays
• These numbers must be conspicuously
posted in each lab using radioactive
material
TRANSFER OF SOURCES
Talk to me, please.
If you are planning to move a
radioactive source:
• Contact Risk Management and Safety as
soon as you think that you may want to
move a radioactive source from:
– One lab to another lab on campus.
– From Notre Dame to another facility offcampus.
– From an off-campus facility to Notre Dame.
– Your inventory to waste.
RM&S MUST:
• Confirm that the source’s destination is
approved.
• i.e. Is the source going to a lab at ND
approved for its use, another facility whose
license allows its use, or a waste site that
meets applicable permitting standards?
RM&S MUST ALSO:
• Perform the necessary leak tests and
contamination surveys prior to source
movement.
• Prepare any paperwork required for and
off-campus move.
WHAT IF I DON’T TELL ANYONE
ABOUT THE TRANSFER?
• This situation has occurred once before,
and we have received a warning by the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• If it happens again, we may be facing
serious consequences, including, but not
limited to Civil Penalties and restrictive use
of radioactive materials.
IS THERE AN ACTIVITY BELOW WHICH WE DO
NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES?
• No, because of the nature of our license,
and the strict security measures relating to
transfer of materials, we ask that you
contact Risk Management prior to all
transfers of radioactive materials.
WASTE REVIEW
Not a waste of time.
WASTE STREAMS
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1. Dry-Solid Long Half-Life
2. Dry-Solid Short Half-Life
3. Aqueous Liquids
4. Organic Liquids w/H-3 or C-14
5. Other Organic Liquids
6. Scint Vials w/H-3 or C-14
7. Other Scint Vials
8. Animal Carcasses w/H-3 or C-14
9. Other Animal Carcasses
LABEL WASTE
• ALL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MUST BE
LABELLED AS SUCH, AND SECRED
AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL
(INCLUDING REMOVAL BY BUILDING
SERVICES PERSONNEL.)
• CONTACT RM&S IMMEDIATELY IF
MATERIAL IS THOUGHT TO BE
MISSING FROM YOUR LAB.
Dry-Solid Long Half-life
• 1. Contains radionuclides with halflife of
greater than 89 days (eg. H-3, C-14,
Na.22, Cs-137)
• 2. Paper, plastic, glass
• 3. No liquids
• 4. Must be in closed, sturdy box or trash
bag.
Dry-Solid Short Half-Life
• 1. Contains radionuclides with half-life of
less than 89 days (eg. Na-24, P-32, P-33,
S- 35, Cr-51, and I-125)
• 2. Paper, plastic, glass
• 3. No liquids
• 4. Must be in sturdy, closed box or bag
Aqueous Liquids
• 1. May contain radionuclides of any halflife
• 2. Must be non-organic and readily
dispersible in water
• 3. “Biologicals” accepted
• 4. Carboy (white) must be tightly shut and
checked for leakage prior to pick-up
Organic Liquids
• 1. Contain organic material such as
scintillation cocktail
• 2. Must be in red carboys
Vial Waste
• 1. Vials must be placed in trays similar to
those in which they were delivered, put
into a box, or
• 2. Placed in a box with a strong liner
Animal Carcasses
• 1. Place in plastic bag, seal, and store in
a freezer until it is picked up
WASTE WILL NOT BE PICKED
UP UNLESS IT IS PROPERLY
CONTAINED AND WASTE
FORM IS COMPLETED
Bags must be taped shut and
carboys tightly capped.
Activities of All Waste Must Be
Entered on Waste Form Before the
Waste Can Be Picked Up
• 1. List all radionuclides in the waste
• 2. Circle proper units
• 3. Be as close as possible to the
nearest microcurie
• 4. Allow for decay of short half-life
waste
Remember
• 1. If you are uncertain your waste is
radioactive, you must assume that it is,
and dispose of it as such.
• 2. If you are uncertain your waste
contains long half-life material, you
must assume that it does, and dispose
of it as such.
LOG SHEETS
• Completing log sheets as the work is done
makes keeping track of waste much
easier.
• Complete the portion of the sheet that
“breaks down” the type of waste and
activity as well as the portion that lists
material used.
ADDITIONAL INVENTORY
INFORMATION
• Complete inventories of radioactive
material must be completed every April.
This process is made easier by keeping
log sheets up to date, and waste reports
that reflect accurate activities.
• Make regular checks of freezers,
refrigerators, and storage containers to
check on “forgotten” material. We do not
like surprises.
USING YOUR SURVEY METER
(Not Counting Geigers)
• Labs using radioisotopes other than H-3
and C-14, as well as x-ray
diffractrometers, must have a working
survey meter.
• It must have been calibrated by RM&S
within the past 12 months.
• You must have a check source of known
dose rate.
BEFORE USING THE METER
• Know how to perform a Battery Check,
and do one prior to each use of the meter.
• Check against the check source prior to
using the meter. Know what the dose rate
on that check should be, and report
differences greater than +/- ten percent to
RM&S.
KNOW WHAT SCALE YOU ARE
USING
• If the meter “peg out” (goes off-scale), go
to a different scale. For example, you are
on the X0.1 scale, and the needle goes to
the far right, you must go to the X1.0
scale. If it continues to peg-out, go to the
X10 scale, etc.
• Likewise, if you get no response on the
X100 scale, keep moving down.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
• Do not accept delivery of a radioactive materials
package from anyone other than Risk
Management and Safety personnel.
• If someone in your building or laboratory has
accepted such a package, do not open it, and
call Risk Management and Safety immediately.
Tell someone there what has occurred; do not
just leave a voice mail, or say you will call back
later, if the Radiation Safety Officer or Health
Physicist is not present.
SAFETY CONSCIOUS WORK
ENVIRONMENT
• You are free to report any safety concern
to Risk Management and Safety without
fear of retaliation.
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(materials) or the State Department of
Health (machines) may also be contacted
without fear of retaliation. Notices with
appropriate telephone numbers are posted
in the laboratories.
Proceed to Quiz
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