9.0 Emergency procedures

9.1 Introduction

9.1.1 Accidents are inevitable in any working environment. Good practice and adherence to Local Rules and codes of work should reduce them to a minimum.

9.1.2 Attention is drawn to the Action Levels Table at the end of this section. All workers should be aware at all times of the activity levels with which they are working, and of the appropriate response in the event of an accident.

9.1.3 Any accident or incident, however apparently trivial, should be reported to the RPS. Unless very trivial amounts of activity are involved (see Action Levels table at end of section) the RPS will inform the CRPO, who will in turn inform the URPO. A written record of the circumstances of the incident and of the steps taken to deal with it must be made and kept by the URPO, who must decide whether a report should be submitted to the Health and Safety Executive or the Environment Agency. ALL CASES OF PERSONAL CONTAMINATION MUST BE REPORTED TO THE SRPO AND URPO IMMEDIATELY.

9.2 Sealed Sources

9.2.1 The radioactive material within a sealed source should not be able to escape, nor should any user be able to gain direct contact with the material.

9.2.2 Should a source be damaged in any way it must be isolated immediately and the following procedure initiated:

  1. The CRPO and URPO must be informed immediately

  2. All workers who have been in contact with the source, and any area that might have been affected, must be monitored for contamination. Should any contamination be found, it must be dealt with as outlined in the section on contamination.

  3. The source must be collected carefully and placed inside a sealable container. This will be done by the URPO.

9.2.3 Should a source be lost or mislaid, the following procedure must be initiated:

  1. The CRPO and URPO must be informed immediately.

  2. A thorough search must be carried out in an attempt to locate the source. All workers who are known or believed to have used or had contact with the source must be interviewed as soon as possible.

  3. In the event that the source cannot be located after an exhaustive search, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency must be informed, this is the responsibility of the RPA.

9.3 Unsealed Sources

9.3.1 Unsealed sources are quite often in liquid form. Thus any spillage can be difficult to contain unless procedures are carried out over a drip tray.

9.3.2 Small Spillages
These will be contained within the drip-tray, or may conceivably contaminate a small area of bench (which should be covered with an absorbent material with an impermeable lower layer such as 'benchcote'). Providing that the activity of material spilled is low (see Action Levels list) the area should be wiped and any tissues etc. disposed of. A check for contamination level must always be made after cleaning of the area.

9.3.3 Larger Spillages
If the activity of the material spilt is large (see Action Levels list), but the amount small, and contained, the CRPO must be informed, and an assessment made of the best way to dispose of the spillage. In addition the URPO must be consulted.

9.3.4 Unconfined Spillages or Spillages away from Designated Workplaces

  1. Immediate steps must be taken to contain the spillage, by use of tissue, towelling etc.
    b    The area of the spillage must be evacuated and cordoned off, and all access to the area prevented.

  2. The URPO must be informed at once.

  3. The URPO will assess the extent and amount of activity of the spillage, and determine the best method of decontamination.

  4. All workers and others involved in the incident shall be monitored for contamination, and treated accordingly.

  5. After the spillage has been cleared, the area shall be carefully monitored, and decontamination continued until acceptable levels are achieved.

9.3.5 Suspected Ingestion of Radioactive Materials

Any worker who suspects that he/she has ingested any radioactive material must immediately contact the CRPO and the URPO.

9.3.6 If appropriate, (see Action Level list) the the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency must be informed, this is the responsibility of the RPA.

9.4 Decontamination

9.4.1 Personnel

a    Internal

The URPO shall assess the degree of contamination and arrange, where appropriate, for medical examination, the monitoring of body-fluids and organs and the appropriate steps to be taken to aid excretion of the radioactive material from the body.

b    External

  1. Any contaminated clothing must be removed from the body, with due precautions, and bagged for disposal.

  2. Minor splashes should be removed by careful and thorough washing of the area with soap or a decontaminant product and water. Special care must be taken with any open wounds or abrasions. The skin must be monitored, and cleansing procedures continued until no trace of contamination remains.

  3. Should larger areas of the worker's body be contaminated, similar washing procedures should be applied. Contamination of the head or hair alone should not be treated by showering, which can spread contamination to unaffected areas of the body, but by washing or shampooing over a basin.

  4. Should it prove impossible to remove all contamination by simple washing, a soft scrubbing-brush may be employed. NB A hard scrubbing-brush is liable to abrade the skin and allow contamination to enter the bloodstream.

  5. Should the above measures fail, the URPO will arrange for the contaminated worker to undergo further decontamination procedures.

9.4.2 Objects

  1. Any spilled radioactive fluid must be contained and absorbed by means of disposable absorbent material (tissues, paper towelling etc). All such operations must be carried out by radiation workers wearing suitable protective clothing (gloves, lab coats or overalls, overshoes, safety glasses and masks if appropriate).

  2. The URPO will direct the disposal of the contaminated absorbers. If the activity of the spillage is within permitted disposal limits, the best procedure is for the excess fluid to be wrung out into a disposal sink and flushed to waste, and the damp material bagged, loosely at first to allow it to dry, then firmly for disposal.

  3. The contaminated surfaces must be monitored, and attempts made to reduce residual contamination by washing with a decontaminating solution (eg Teepol, Decon). Care should be taken to prevent the spread of contamination. The level of contamination must be checked and the procedure continued until acceptable levels are reached.

  4. Should it not be possible to reduce the contamination, the area must be sealed and left until the contaminant has decayed to an acceptable level, or the contaminated parts removed, under the supervision of the URPO, for appropriate disposal.

In this Code: