Emergency Guide University of California, San Diego

Radiation Spill

Minor Spill: (A minor spill is one laboratory staff are capable of handling safely without assistance from EH&S)

• Alert people in the immediate area. Notify the lab supervisor or principal investigator.
• Have potentially contaminated personnel stay in one area until they can be monitored and confirmed free of contamination.
• Clean up minor spills only.
• Confine and label the spill area with radioactive label tape. Indicate the isotope spilled.
• Wear protective equipment including safety goggles, disposable gloves, shoe covers, and long-sleeve lab coat.
• Place absorbent towels over a liquid spill. Place towels dampened with water over spills of solid materials.
• Encircle the spill, cleaning from the outermost areas toward the center.
• Place towels in a plastic bag. Dispose of the bag in a radiation waste container.
• Monitor area, hands, and shoes for contamination with an appropriate survey meter or wipe test. Repeat cleanup until contamination is no longer detected.
• Provide a written record of the circumstances involving the spill and all remedial actions to EH&S as soon as possible.

Major Spill:

• Attend to injured or contaminated personnel and remove them from further exposure.
• Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate the area.
• Have potentially contaminated personnel stay in one area until they can be monitored and confirmed free of contamination.
• Close doors and prevent entrance to the affected area.
• Call EH&S immediately: (858) 534-3660. After business hours call (858) 534-HELP (4357).
• Provide incident-specific information to arriving emergency responders.