Question

safety precautions while using radioactive materials​

Answer 1

PRACTICAL PROCEDURE

• Each experiment with radioactive substances should be reported to the HSE Department in advance (see also “Procedures for handling ionizing radiation”). Once an overall description of the experiment has been provided, the HSE Department will provide specific guidelines for workplace safety, health protection and environmental protection. These guidelines should be strictly observed.
• The radioactive substances used should comply with the following characteristics:
• radiotoxicity must be as low as possible.
• short-living isotopes are preferred to long-living ones
• the amounts used must be kept to a minimum.
• Never work alone in a radioactive lab, especially not outside normal working hours.  Always make sure to have someone nearby in case of emergency.
• Take all precautions to prevent radioactive contamination:
• always separate radioactive activities from non-radioactive activities.
• as far as possible, limit the area where radioactive substances are used and mark the area, e.g. by using containers with absorbent paper.
• Apply a radiation symbol to any containers and items that have come into contact with radioactive substances.
• never bring documents such as notes into the radioactive zone.
• When handling radioactive materials, always wear the appropriate protective clothing:
• wear a lab coat. If there is a risk of serious contamination, wear disposable clothing. Store your lab coat away from your regular clothes.
• always wear gloves when handling radioactive substances. Regularly check the radiation  level of these gloves . Never touch anything with potentially contaminated gloves; use paper tissues instead.
• wear shoe covers in rooms where the floor may be contaminated.
• keep personal items such as handbags, etc., outside the lab.
• Use appropriate radiation shields. Return the stock solution to storage immediately after removing the amount needed.
• To avoid internal contamination, strict hygiene is essential when handling radioactive materials
• Eating, smoking, drinking, and applying cosmetics are prohibited in radioactive labs.
• Never pipette by mouth. Use pipetting devices instead.
• Wash your hands thoroughly when you leave the lab.
• Regularly check the radiation level of your working area and all objects used, or at least at the end of each working day. Replace contaminated absorption paper. Decontaminate contaminated objects.
• Dispose of all radioactive waste in the appropriate containers. Limit the amount of waste to a bare minimum. Separate short-living and long-living radioactive waste.
• In case of an incident involving radioactive materials (e.g. spills), always remain in the room unless injured.  Alert your HSE special contact person radioprotection, who will in turn contact the HSE Department.  
• Incidents outside normal working must be reported using the general emergency number (016 32) .22.22.  Specify clearly that the incident involves radioactive materials.
• Clean up any radioactive spills as thoroughly as possible.