Radiation Safety

1
Radiation Safety Legislation

• Dr. Rosaleen Devery
• Radiation Safety Officer

SAFELAB Module- 2 31st January 2007
2
Objective

• To minimise radiation exposure from
• Sealed sources
• Radiation Generators (Irradiating apparatus)
• Unsealed sources

3
General Radiation Safety Principles

• ALARA
• Use forceps
• Use adequate shielding
• Provide locks, warning lights
• Perform wipe tests on sealed sources

4
General Working Rules for unsealed radioactive
materials

• Risk assessment
• Control quantities of materials
• Contain materials
• Confirm dose rates and lack of contamination

• The Laboratory
• Personal Behaviour
• Wear TLD when working with 32Pand 125I
• Housekeeping
• Contamination
• Monitoring
• Receiving storing
• Radioactive waste

5
General Working Rules for Sealed radioactive
materials X ray equipment

• Refer to license for Inventory of radioactive
  sources
• Location, nature and amount
• Wipe (leak) test certificate with each
  acquisition
• a take back written assurance from supplier
• Perform risk assessment
• Equipment to be serviced and maintained
• Read equipment manuals
• Laboratories to remain locked when not in use
• Log book to be signed each time isotope is used
• Date, isotope used, users name, length of time in
  lab
• Keep clean and tidy
• Radiation warning labels and markings to be
  removed prior to disposal
• Use calibrated radiation survey meter
• Wear TLDs

6
Annual Limits

• Radiation worker 20mSv
• Normal employees 1mSv
• General Public 0.05 mSv
• Natural Background Ireland 2.5mSv

7
New users of radioisotopes

• Complete and Submit to RSO
• Registration form
• Isotope record form
• Obtain relevant copy of
• Requirements for working with unsealed
  radioisotopes (b and g emitters)
• Requirements for working with sealed
  radioisotopes X ray equipment
• Intervention Plan for dealing with a radiological
  emergency
• L\ALL\Radiation

8
Intervention Plan for dealing with a radiological
emergency

• November 2006

• Avoid panic
• Never touch a radioactive source
• Prevent unauthorised access to site of incident
• Retire to safe distance, plan subsequent actions
  and implement
• Seek advice of experts
• Seek additional assistance

9
Procedures in Emergency Situations

• Theft/ Loss

Calculate Likely exposure Review Security
system Report to Head of School/ Unit, School
Safety Officers, HS committee
10
Procedures in Emergency Situations

• Damage
• Initiate personal decontamination
• Evacuate
• Place barrier at safe distance from source
• Identify area as radiation hazard
• Report to RSO
• Time, date, place
• Names involved/affected
• Results of dose assessments
• Probable cause of incident

11
Procedures in Emergency Situations

• Malfunction of irradiating apparatus
• Switch off X ray unit
• Refer to Beaumont Hospital for medical
  examination
• Put up MUST NOT BE USED sign on unit
• Disconnect, lock
• School safety officer to contact Service/repair
  representative
• RSO to seek accurate assessment of dose report
  etc

12
Procedures in Emergency Situations

• Spillage / aerosol release
• Stop work secure cause
• Warn others
• Isolate and absorb hot spot
• Dont spread
• Seal hot spot with bench coat/perspex /lead
• Treat all cleaning materials as radioactive waste
• Check for contamination of people, floor, bench
• Inform supervisor RSO

• RSO to determine quantity of radioisotope, volume
  of spillage and assess exposure dose
• School safety officer and RSO to conduct enquiry
  into cause
• RSO to report

13
Procedures in Emergency Situations

• Ingestion/inhalation
• Get buddy / first aid staff to call Beaumont
  Hospital Poison Centre / ambulance
• Warn others
• Leave immediately
• Secure lab

14
Procedures in Emergency Situations

• Damage during transport
• Monitor package for surface contamination
• Obtain contact details for distributor
• Contact distributor
• Replace in emergency container box
• Seal, label and arrange for replacement
• RSO to report

15
Emergency equipment

• Contamination monitors ( eg Mini monitor E
  series)
• Latex gloves, white coat, perspex glasses
• Perspex screens, warning notices
• Long handled forceps
• Storage container (perspex, lead, concrete)
• Equipment manuals
• Bags of lead shot, lead sheet
• Fire blankets, extinguishers