MISHAPS & EMERGENCIES

Emergency Numbers

Introduction

Unsealed Radionuclide Spill Clean-up

Contamination in the Laboratory

Personnel Contamination

Ingestion / Inhalation of Radioactive Materials

Leaking Sealed Sources

High Radiation Exposure

If a radiation emergency occurs, notify EH&S Health Physics immediately.

Boulder Campus
EH&S Health Physics (Campus Hours)                         (303) 492-6523
Environmental Health & Safety (Campus Hours)            (303) 492-6025
UCB Police Dispatch (After Campus Hours)                 911 or (303) 492-6666

Denver Campus

EH&S Health Physics (Campus Hours)                         (303) 492-6523
Auraria/UCD Police Dept. (After Campus Hours)          911 or (303) 556-3271

Colorado Springs Campus

1. INTRODUCTION

In the event of an emergency involving radiation, Health Physics should be notified as soon as possible.  If the emergency is life threatening, University Police (911) should be contacted.  Be sure to indicate that radiation is involved.  The police will contact Health Physics personnel if radiation or radioactive materials are involved.  Please have the following information available for emergency personnel:     

1. Your name and the name of the Principal Investigator in charge of the laboratory
   
2. Type of radiation incident (i.e., spill, x-ray malfunction, lost sealed source, etc.)
3. The location of the incident
• Building
• Room number        
• Location of a spill or machine within the laboratory
4. A phone number where you can be reached, as well as the location where you will meet emergency personnel
5. The radionuclide (or energy if an x-ray machine)
6. The estimated activity involved
7. The volume of liquid or solid involved
8. The chemical form of the labeled compound

2. UNSEALED RADIONUCLIDE SPILL CLEAN-UP

Contamination in the Laboratory

In the event of a spill involving radioactive materials, immediately notify the other personnel in the immediate area of the spill.  All personnel not involved in the spill should vacate the area, avoiding the spill area while leaving.  Contact Health Physics at (303) 492-6523 for help cleaning up the spill, especially if it involves mixed radioactive/hazardous materials.

Personnel Contamination

Health Physics should be notified of personal contamination incidents.  A dose assessment may need to be performed.  The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) will need to know how much radiation was involved, the radionuclide, and approximately how long the radiation was present on the skin and/or clothing.  See Appendix P for Personnel Decontamination Procedures.

Ingestion/Inhalation of Radioactive Materials

Health Physics should immediately be notified of any ingestion, inhalation, or injection of radioactive materials.  Inhalation of radioactive materials may be remedied somewhat by intentional coughing or deep-breathing in a clean area.  Injection of radioactive materials may be remedied somewhat by flushing the area thoroughly.  In some cases, bioassay tests may need to be performed to determine the amount of radiation ingested, inhaled, or injected.  See Exposure Control chapter.

3. LEAKING SEALED SOURCES

Health Physics performs leak tests on sealed sources.  If the source is found to be leaking above regulatory levels, it will be taken out of service by Health Physics.  Leaking sealed sources can cause contamination hazards, as well as exposure hazards.  Please refer to the Sealed Sources chapter for more information.

4. HIGH RADIATION EXPOSURE

Certain x-ray machines or areas on campus could result in possible exposure to high radiation levels.  If an exposure to high levels of radiation has occurred or is suspected, contact Health Physics immediately at (303) 492-6523.   The RSO may need to perform a dose calculation and will need to know the duration of the exposure, the proximity to the radiation source, and the activity or energy of the source.

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