UCSD Blink: How to Clean Up Minor Radioactive Contamination

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How to Clean Up Minor Radioactive Contamination

Summary: Minor spills (microcurie amounts in a single room) can result in contamination of the floor, lab surfaces, equipment, and personnel. Learn how to limit the spread of contamination and decontaminate the area when a minor spill occurs.

What to do		How to do it
1	Call for assistance if needed, or in the event of a major spill.	Call for assistance under any of these conditions: Millicurie amounts in one room Microcurie amounts in more than one room Lab staff believes that assistance is required Emergency response numbers: Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660 Medical Center Safety Office, (619) 543-7575 After business hours and on weekends: Campus Police: (858) 534-4357 Medical Center Security: 6-1-1-1
2	Follow these steps if the spill is minor (microcurie amounts in a single room.)	Stop the spill. Place absorbent paper or material on the spill to limit the spread of contamination. Warn others. Monitor personnel before they leave; have personnel change clothes or laboratory coats as necessary. Isolate the area. Mark or block off the contaminated area with warning signs or labels. Minimize personnel exposure.
3	Clean up the spill.	Wear double gloves, lab coats, shoe covers, other protective equipment, and dosimetry. Decontaminate with normal cleaning or commercial decontamination agents. Using paper towels with the decontamination agent, scrub from the outermost edges of the contaminated areas and work inward. Put all contaminated objects and cleaning materials into containers to prevent the spread of contamination. Request a hazardous waste collection.
4	Survey the contaminated area.	Perform a direct meter survey. See How to Perform a Radiation Survey for more information. After decontaminating the hot spots, perform a wipe test. Decontaminate hot spots to counts that are not statically different than background using a survey meter. Document all surveys and wipe tests performed. Keep the liquid scintillation counter printout and corresponding map in the lab survey book.
5	Report the incident.	Report the incident to the principal investigator, lab supervisor, and the Radiation Safety Officer, (858) 534-6138.

Need an expert? Contact EH&S Radiation Safety, (858) 534-6138.

Notice: Refer to the Radiation Safety Manual (PDF) (Word file) for a detailed description of UCSD's radiation safety program. Also, read about the latest changes (PDF) (Word file).