In the event of an accident involving the release of significant quantities of radioactive material, the objectives of all remedial action are to:

a.       Minimize the amount of radioactive material entering the body by ingestion, inhalation, or through any wounds.

 

b.      Prevent the spread of contamination from the area of the accident.

 

c.      Remove radioactive contamination on personnel.

 

d.     Start area decontamination procedures under qualified supervision.  Inexperienced personnel should not attempt unsupervised decontamination.

 

1. Minor Spills:  A minor spill is defined as equal to a less than 1.0mCi.

a.       Notify persons in the area that a spill has occurred.

 

b.      Put on gloves to prevent contamination of hands.  (Wash hands first if they are contaminated as result of accident.)

 

c.      Drop absorbent paper or cloth on spill to limit spread of contamination.

 

d.      Mark off contaminated area.   Do not allow anyone to leave contaminated area without being monitored.

 

e.      Notify the radiation safety officer of the accident.

 

f.       Start decontamination procedures as soon as possible.  Normal cleaning agents should be adequate.  Keep cleaning supplies to the minimum needed to do the job and place into sealed bags after use.  Proceed from the outermost edges    of the contaminated area inwards, reducing systematically the area that is decontaminated.

 

g.      Put all contaminated objects into containers to prevent spread of contamination.

 

h.      Assign a person equipped with a survey meter to follow the work and to watch for the accidental spread of contamination.

 

i.     Perform contamination survey and record the results.

 

Note: A spill may require more than one decontamination process.

 

2. Major Spills:  A major spill is defined as greater than 1.0mCi of activity.

a.       Notify the radiation officer of the accident and all persons in the area of the spill.  Decontamination of highly radioactive areas requires the direct supervision of the radiation safety officer.

 

b.   Put on gloves to prevent contamination of hands.  
      (Wash hands first if they are contaminated as result of accident.)

 

c.      Drop absorbent paper or cloth on spill to limit spread of contamination.

 

d.      Mark off contaminated area.  Do not allow anyone to leave contaminated area without being monitored.

 

e.      If possible, cut off the release of radioactive materials from the source to the environment but avoid breathing in high concentrations of radioactive material.  Close windows.

    f.   Evacuate room and close doors.  Remove contaminated shoes 
         and  laboratory coats at laboratory door to avoid tracking   
         radioactive material around.

g.   If possible, the spill should be shielded, but only if it can be done     
                    without further contamination or without significantly increasing your     
                     radiation exposure.

 

h.      Lock or guard the doors and post appropriate signs warning against entry.

 

i.    Assemble in nearby room with other personnel suspected of being   
     contaminated.  Wash off possible exposed area of the skin, if there is a  
     delay in performing a survey.  Do not leave the control area until you 
     have been thoroughly surveyed for contamination.  (Personnel
     decontamination measures should be instituted promptly if significant 
     contamination is found).

 

j.    RSO will give the specific instructions for decontaminations of major   
     spills dependent upon the type of spill (e.g., gaseous), potential airborne 
     radioactive contaminants and dose rates.

 

k.   Further description of accident plans are listed in subsection 4.

 

3.      Reporting Procedures for Minor and Major Spills

An in-house evaluation – including corrective actions – will be made, for   
               minor spills, by the RSO and documentation retained in the facility.  All   
               major spills will be evaluated and documented in a

report to the Radiation Safety Officer and facility administration.

 

Any event that exceeds the Agreement State reporting requirements will  
               be   reported.  Any event that affects the general public or could cause 
               media attention (e.g., a traffic accident) will be reported.  Any event that  
               has the potential of the above will be reported by telephone, unofficially, 
               with an official report to follow if requested.

 

         4.   Emergency Procedures in Case of a Fire

 

               IMMEDIATE ACTIONS IN THE EVENT OF A RADIATION 
               INCIDENT INVOLVING A FIRE

 

a.       Keep all persons as far away as possible from the incident scene.

 

b.      Perform any life saving rescue and first aid necessary.

 

c.      Summon assistance from the nearest fire department.

 

d.      Keep upwind of the incident, when fire is present.

 

e.      Notify the radiation safety officer.   Notify the State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources Radioactive Materials Division.

 

f.       Avoid contact with radioactive material and suspected contaminated material.

 

g.      Detain all persons involved with the incident or potentially contaminated by the incident, except injured individuals, at the scene until the emergency team arrives.

 

h.      Record names, addresses, destinations, and phone numbers of any persons who cannot be persuaded to stay at the incident scene.

 

i.       Eating, drinking, and smoking in the incident area shall be prohibited.

 

j.       Employees and fire fighters will not leave the general area until approved to do so by the Lab Manager or the Radiation Safety Officer.

 

k.      The Lab Manager or Radiation Safety Officer will assist the Fire Chief in the monitoring of all fire fighters.

 

l.       Notify proper regulatory agencies.

 

Contact Numbers:

 

RSO Macon Campus:  Dr. Vladimir Mayorov  478-301-4025 Ofc / 478-301-2001 Lab

 

RSO Atlanta Campus: Dr. Ray Green   678-547-6213

 

Environmental, Health & Safety Office   478-301-2544