Radiation Incident Response

  1. Theft or loss of any ionizing radiation source:
    • Notify the Radiation Safety Office immediately.
  2. Accidents which involve radioactive material dusts, mists, fumes, vapors or gases:
    • Turn off all fans, evacuate the room immediately, close the door and notify the Radiation Safety
  3. Fires or Explosions Involving Radioactive Materials
    • Notify other persons in the area and evacuate
    • Activate the fire alarm & call 911
  4. Contamination of Personnel with Radioactive Material:
    • If skin is contaminated, wash with mild soap and water
    • For serious injury assist the injured person & seek medical attention
    • If the spill is on clothing, remove / cut contaminated clothing, as appropriate
    • Report known or suspected inhalation or ingestion of radioactive material to Radiation Safety
    • Retain all materials used for decontamination
    • Re-monitor to verify decontamination efforts have reduced contamination to below 650 cpm
    • Report all injuries and follow standard procedures
  5. Major (millicurie or high volume) spill:
    • Restrict access to the contaminated area
    • Protect hand and right the container
    • Confine the spill with absorbent material
    • Remove gloves, wash hands
    • Notify the Radiation Safety Office and follow instructions
    • Check all persons for contamination as above
    • Radiation Safety Office may supervise decontamination of the spill
    • Retain all materials used for decontamination
  6. Minor (microcurie or small volume) spill:
    • Advise other personnel of the spill
    • Protect hand and right the container
    • Confine the spill with absorbent material
    • Check for contamination using meter, begin to decontaminate with commercial solution
    • avoiding spread of contamination
    • Notify the Radiation Safety Office and follow instructions
    • Radiation Safety Office may supervise decontamination of the spill
    • Retain all materials used for decontamination

Contact in case of radiation incident

During normal business hours (7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday)
608-262-3600

After normal business hours 911 (from a campus phone if possible)