Table of Contents
What do you do in a radioactive emergency?
If you are indoors during a radiation emergency:
- Stay inside. Close and lock all windows and doors. Go to the basement or the middle of the building.
- If possible, turn off fans, air conditioners, and forced-air heating units that bring air in from the outside. Close fireplace dampers.
Who handles radioactive materials?
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has regulatory authority over storage and disposal of all commercially-generated nuclear wastes in the United States, as well as disposal of spent fuel and high-level wastes generated by the Department of Energy.
What safety precautions should be taken when handling radioactive sources?
When handling radioactive materials, always wear the appropriate protective clothing:
- wear a lab coat.
- always wear gloves when handling radioactive substances.
- wear shoe covers in rooms where the floor may be contaminated.
- keep personal items such as handbags, etc., outside the lab.
How do you handle and store radioactive materials?
The following practices must be followed each and every time unsealed radioactive material is handled.
- 1 Warnings Must Be Posted in Work and Storage Areas.
- 2 Cover Wounds.
- 3 Wear Disposable Gloves.
- 4 Wear Lab Coats and Safety Glasses.
- 5 Personal Monitoring.
- 6 Area Monitoring.
- 7 Time, Distance, Shielding.
- 8 Wear Dosimeter.
What is a radiation emergency?
Radiation emergencies can be intentional acts designed to hurt others, like a terrorist attack, or they can be accidents that occur when using radioactive material. A nuclear power plant accident, nuclear explosion or a dirty bomb are examples of radiation emergencies.
Why is emergency radiation needed?
These emergencies—which include malignant spinal cord compression, brain metastases, superior vena cava obstruction, and uncontrolled tumour hemorrhage —may require treatment outside of hospital hours, particularly on weekends and hospital holidays.
What is radiation protection program?
A radiation protection program is intended to ensure that all activities and operations involving the use of X-rays are performed in such a way as to protect users, staff, patients and the public from exposure to unnecessary radiation in practices that use X-ray equipment.
What is radioactive safety?
Also called radioactive safety, radiation safety is a combination of safe practices and precautionary measures put in place to promote safety when working with or near radiation. The ALARA radiation safety principle is to minimize radiation dosage and control the amount of radioactive materials in the environment.
How do schools deal with radioactive materials?
There should be a person designated to be responsible for the security, safety and proper use of radioactive sources. Sealed radioactive sources should be of a safe design and type suitable for school science. Sealed sources should be used whenever possible in preference to unsealed sources.
How can we manage radioactive waste?
Examples of treatment include decontaminating, shredding, compacting, drying and solidifying the waste. Packaging: Most radioactive waste requires packaging in specially engineered containers for safe storage and disposal. This also allows for easier handling and transport.
Which of the following is an example of a nuclear emergency?
Serious nuclear power plant accidents include the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011), the Chernobyl disaster (1986), the Three Mile Island accident (1979), and the SL-1 accident (1961).
What should you know about emergency response for radioactive materials?
Emergency Response Guidebook(ERG) for hazardous materials incidents. Remember that some radioactive materials can also be chemically hazardous. Use the Emergency Response Guidebookand the appropriate guide during any transportation accident involving a hazardous material.
What to do in case of a radioactive accident?
Contact Environmental Health and Safety, 208-885-6524, in all situations. In an accident or incident involving radioactive materials, the primary safety concern is to prevent inhaling, ingesting or physically contacting radioactive materials.
Is there an emergency with a radioactive spill?
Problems involving radioactive materials, such as spills or personal contamination, do not typically create emergencies. Generally such incidents can be readily handled with laboratory or other University resources instead of calling non-University emergency responders.
What are the different types of radiation emergencies?
Nuclear detonation, such as from stolen nuclear weapons or an improvised nuclear device (IND) (i.e., a makeshift bomb). Radiation emergencies can range from small-scale contamination events to very large catastrophes.