WoRKinG PraCtICeS WhEn UsInG RaDIaOaCtiVe IsOtOpES

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS IN HANDLING RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES

• Planning experiments is important as it can avoid direct contact to the radioactive exposure.
• Wear protective clothing such as laboratory coat, safety glasses and close-toed shoes.
• Label containers and equipments should be clearly labelled with labelling tape , for the handling of radioisotopes
• Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or touch exposed areas of skin while working in a room where radioisotopes are handled.
• Benchcoat and trays are used to confine spills and reduce the spread of potential contamination.
• Vacuum line traps are used to trap the spills of the radioactive isotopes.
• Pipettes and glassware function to avoid cross contamination related to the radioactivity exposure.
• Handle and dispose of spin (centrifuge) columns of the radioactive isotopes with care.
• Store radioactive waste and sources in a safe and secure place
• Wash hands, monitor clothes, shoes and hands before leaving the laboratory.
• Do not leave the laboratory or touch things outside of the work space with potentially contaminated gloves.
• Keep the laboratory locked when not in use and keep unauthorized persons out of the laboratory.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

GLOVE

Wearing glove when working with open radioactive sources.
Frequently check during the experiment to detect small punctures that may have developed, especially at the fingertips.
Minimum two of pairs of gloves is recommended when handling iodine, with the outer pair being changed frequently.

Lab Coats
Worn when working with radioactive materials.
Button completely, with sleeves rolled down fully and the cuffs sealed with gloves.

Clothing

Long pants is wearing to provide splash protection for the lower legs.
Avoid wearing rings in open sources as contamination can become trapped under the band.

Shoes

cover the whole foot
Do not use sandals or thongs which they do not provide adequate coverage in the event of a spill and from falling objects.
Eye protection
Always wearing safety glasses, goggles or face guards so that any material hazard do not splashing in the eyes.
wear glasses is also good practice as shielding when working with high energy beta emitters to reduce the external radiation dose to the eyes.
Remote handling devices
For example forceps or tongs must be used when handling stock solution vials or other sources that produce a significant radiation field.
A glove box should be used when working with dry radioactive powders.

REGULATION IN RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

REGULATION IN RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000), employers have a general responsibility to make arrangements for the planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of control measures in handling radioactive substances.

Under IRR99, radiation employers must carry out a prior risk assessment before dealing with radioactive substances

Any radioactive materials must be registered with EA/SEPA/EHS for the keeping and disposal of radioactive waste.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) is in charged in recording the malfunction causes of radioactive source and reported incidents involving in misuse of radioactive substances.

The licensing and regulation of radioactive isotopes in the United States are shared by
the:

· NRC

· U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

· State governments

· FDA

NRC

The NRC is the Federal agency given the task of protecting public health and safety and the environment with regard to the safe use of nuclear materials.

NRC regulates medical, academic, and industrial uses of nuclear materials generated by or from a nuclear reactor. Through a comprehensive inspection and enforcement program, the NRC ensures that these facilities operate in compliance with strict safety standards.

The NRC has relinquished its authority to regulate certain radioactive materials, including some radioisotopes, to most of the States. These States, which have entered into an agreement assuming this regulatory authority from the NRC, are called Agreement States, and are shown on the map below. Agreement States, like the NRC, regulate reactor-produced radioisotopes within their borders and must provide at least as much health and safety protection as the NRC. The NRC maintains approximately 6,000 licenses for the use of radioactive materials, and the Agreement States maintain approximately 16,000 materials licenses. Every license specifies the type, quantity, and location of radioactive material that may be possessed and used. When radioactive material is transported, special packaging and labeling are required. Also specified in each license are the training and qualification of workers using the materials, specific procedures for using the materials, and any special safety precautions required. Every licensee is inspected periodically either by the NRC or the Agreement State to ensure that radioactive materials are being used and transported safely. Violators of regulatory requirements are subject to fines and other enforcement actions, including loss of license.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA is also responsible for, among other things, setting air emission and drinking water standards for radionuclides.

STATE GOVERNMENTS

The States regulate radioactive substances that occur naturally or are produced by machines, such as linear accelerators or cyclotrons.

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the manufacture and use of linear accelerators; the States regulate their operation.

PICTURES OF HANDLING RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES