Radioactive Spill

Prepare 

Respond 

Immediately report all incidents, injuries, and potential exposures to your Principal Investigator (PI) and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) hotline at (310) 825-9797 Option 1.

  • Remove all contaminated clothing, dispose in a biohazard bag or decontaminate using bleach
  • Ensure your shoes are not contaminated with hazardous material to prevent spreading outside of the immediate area
  • Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and water for 20 minutes
  • Obtain medical attention, if necessary.

  • Immediately rinse the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with water for 20 minutes (use faucet or eye wash)
  • Hold eye open so your eyelids are washed thoroughly
  • Obtain medical attention
  • Report incident to your Principal Investigator (PI).

  • Alert people in immediate area
  • Contact radiation safety officer at (310) 206-4633
  • Wear PPE (safety goggles, disposable gloves, shoe covers and long-sleeve lab coat)
  • For liquid spills, place absorbent paper towels over it. For solid spills, place damp towels over it
  • Use forceps to place used towels in a plastic bag, then dispose of them in a radioactive waste box
  • Monitor area, hands, and shoes for contamination with an appropriate survey meter or method. Repeat until the contamination is no longer detected.

  • Isolate all potentially contaminated personnel in one area until they have been monitored and confirmed to be free of contamination
  • Contact radiation safety officer at (310) 206-4633
  • Close the doors to prevent entrance into the spill area
  • Have a person knowledgeable of the incident report it.
  • If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately.