Environmental Health and Safety

Radiation Safety Manual

Appendix 3: Operational Reminders

Operation Reminders for the Use of Radioactive Material

1. Radioactive material delivered to the lab:

• If received direct (Fed. Express, etc.) contact EH&S.
  
  
• Log shipment in laboratory receipt/use log.
  
  

2. Prepare for use:

• Process area prepared:
  • Absorbent paper on bench with perimeter defined with red tape.
  • Note: if already set up, frisk for contamination.
  • Appropriate shielding in place.
  • Other supplies and equipment directly related to initial process in area.
  
  
  
• Portable monitor applicable to radiation adjacent to process area and turned on.
  
  
• Extra gloves adjacent to process area.
  
  
• Waste receptacles available with adequate space for anticipated waste volume.
  
  
• Evaluate necessity for interim benchtop waste collection.
  
  
• Don protective apparel:
  • Lab coat (with dosimetry if applicable)
  • Gloves (extremity dosimeter on the inside of gloves)
  • Eye protection (optional depending on process)
  
  
  
• Consider dry run.
  
  
• Obtain stock radioactive material and immediately place in process area.
  
  

3. Initiate use:

• Aliquot required amount of stock and apply as necessary within process area.
  
  
• Periodically frisk gloved hands in between contact with RAM and any other object.
  
  
• Avoid moving any item outside of the process area.
  
  
• If procedure dictates that you leave the process area with any item which is radioactive or potentially radioactive, change gloves and move the item to the desired location.
  • Make sure that the item is appropriately labeled as radioactive and the appropriate level of contamination control is established in the new use location.
  • If only one hand is necessary, glove only that hand, leaving the other hand to manipulate clean items.
  • Monitoring capability should always be kept adjacent to the process area(s).
  • Re-glove and continue process in a new area, if applicable.
  • When finished, remove and dispose of gloves and wash hands.
    
    

4. Post-Procedure:

• Survey area with portable instrument and/or wipes as appropriate (don’t forget to frisk your lab coat).
  
  
• Decontaminate equipment as necessary.
  
  
• Replace absorbent paper if contaminated.
  
  
• Log in use of radioactive material on log sheet with date, activity used, initials and maintain running total.
  
  
• Evaluate waste for pickup.
  
  

5. Final considerations:

• Everything in the process area should be considered contaminated.
  
  
• Everything outside the process area should be kept clean.
  
  
• Plan ahead. Be systematic and organized.
  
  
• Avoid the use of gloves for purposes other than contamination control.
  
  
• Change gloves often when performing radioactive procedure.