Spills, Contamination, and Emergencies

In the event a spill or other emergency occurs in your authorized RAM space, EHS wants you to be prepared to handle that, whether it be cleaning it up yourself or contacting EHS for help. Are you needing to:

 

HOW TO RESPOND TO SPILLS AND CONTAMINATION

 
MINOR SPILLS
  • Notify person(s) in the area that a spill has occurred.
  • Prevent the spread of contamination by covering the spill with absorbent paper.
  • Survey the area with a survey meter and then determine removable contamination levels by performing swipe surveys. Check the area around the spill for contamination. Also check hands, clothing, and shoes for contamination.
  • Consult Table 2 and Table 3 on specific actions for given swipe and instrument survey contamination levels.
  • If required, report the incident to EHS.
  • If decontamination is recommended, clean up the spill, using absorbent paper and wearing disposable gloves and protective clothing (lab coat).
  • Carefully fold the absorbent paper with the clean side out and place in a radioactive waste container. Put contaminated gloves and any other contaminated disposable material in a radioactive waste container.
  • Upon decontamination completion, check the area around the spill. Check hands, clothing, and shoes for contamination before exiting the area.
  • As necessary decontaminate personnel by removing contaminated clothing and flushing contaminated skin with lukewarm water, then washing with mild soap.
  • Document contamination survey and swipe results and 

 

MAJOR SPILLS AND INCIDENTS INVOLVING RADIOACTIVE DUSTS, MISTS, FUMES, ORGANIC VAPORS AND GASES.

For major spills or incidents involving radioactive dusts, mists, fumes, organic vapors, and gases use the “Radiation Emergency Procedures.”

 

HOW TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES

An emergency call list is available with the MU Police Department and the University of Missouri Healthcare, which will allow them to contact a member of EHS during non-working hours and put them in touch with the person requesting help.

Should an emergency arise during working hours, contact your assigned Health Physicist or if not available, state your problem to one of our office staff members and they can connect you with someone who can lend assistance. 

 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

During working hours contact EHS at 882-7018 for assistance.  Make sure you give the receptionist a clear message regarding the nature of the problem.  If you know your assigned HP, you may try to contact that person first. 

MU Police will contact EHS members after hours for response to a radiation emergency situation.  Therefore after hours contact MU Police first at 882-7201 so that they can contact one of the EHS members.  If the emergency only involves radioactive material, make sure that you indicate this to the MU Police dispatcher so that they will use the appropriate call list.  There is also a Hazardous Materials call list for situations involving chemical spills. 

Refer to the Radiation Emergency Procedures for more details concerning your response . 

 

Page last updated on April 2, 2019.