Personnel Contamination

Notify the JHMI Radiation Control Unit immediately after the contaminating accident. Wash body thoroughly for 2 or 3 minutes, repeatedly, “soaping” and rinsing.  Consideration should be given to the chemistry of the contaminant and an attempt made to find a suitable agent for dissolving it.  Any cleansing agent may be used, but synthetic detergents are preferred to soaps.  Avoid prolonged use of any one decontamination procedure.  Irritation to the skin may impede the success of more suitable procedures.  Avoid the use of organic solvents.  They may make the skin more permeable to radioactive contaminants.

Area Decontamination

Preparations for decontamination shall be started promptly.  Determine the extent and hazard of contamination.  The JHMI Radiation Control Unit will assist in this evaluation.  The individual responsible for the contamination will be expected to do most of the cleanup under the supervision of the JHMI Radiation Control Unit.  After decontamination, the area or equipment shall be considered contaminated until proved otherwise by the JHMI Radiation Control Unit. Reporting accidental inhalation, ingestion, or injury involving radioactive materials or radiation source to his supervisor and the JHMI Radiation Control Unit and carrying out their recommended corrective measures.  The individual shall cooperate in all attempts to evaluate his exposure.  A report of the accident shall be incorporated into the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution’s employee incident program.

For specific types of incidents, see additional guidance below. Regardless of scale, report any incidents to your supervisor or lab manager as soon as it is safe to do so. Where appropriate, complete and submit a Employee Report of Incident, as described in HSE-SP003 JHU/JHM Workforce Member Work-Related Incident and Injury Reporting.

Minor Spills Involving No Radiation Hazard to Personnel

  • Notify all other people in the room at once.
  • Permit only the minimum number of people necessary to deal with the spill into the area.
  • Confine the spill immediately.
    • Liquid Spills: Don protective gloves, drop absorbent paper on the spill
    • Dry Spills: Don protective gloves, dampen thoroughly, taking care not to spread contamination
  • Notify the JHMI Radiation Control Unit as soon as possible.  The Radiation Safety Officer will be responsible for the remaining steps.
  • Decontaminate.
  • Monitor all persons involved in the spill and cleaning.
  • Permit no person to resume work in the area until a survey is made.
  • Prepare a complete history of the accident and subsequent activity related thereto for the necessary records.

Major Spills Involving Radiation Hazard to Personnel

  • Notify all people not involved in the spill to vacate the room at once.
  • If the spill is liquid, and the hands are protected, right the container.
  • If the spill is on the skin, flush thoroughly.
  • If the spill is on clothing, discard outer or protective clothing at once.
  • Switch off all fans.
  • Vacate the room.
  • Notify the JHMI Radiation Control Unit as soon as possible.  The Radiation Safety Officer will be responsible for the remaining steps.
  • Take immediate steps to decontaminate the personnel involved, as necessary.
  • Decontaminate the area (Personnel involved in decontamination must be adequately protected).
  • Monitor all people involved in the spill and cleaning to determine the adequacy of decontamination.
  • Permit no person to resume work in the area until a survey is made.
  • Prepare a complete history of the accident and subsequent activity related thereto for the necessary records.  Send a copy of the report to the Radiation Safety Committee (to be reviewed during their quarterly meeting) and appropriate administrators if any individual has received an abnormal radiation exposure.

Accidents Involving Radioactive Dusts, Mists, Fumes, Organic Vapors and Gases

  • Vacate the room.
  • Notify the JHMI Radiation Control Unit at once.
  • Ascertain that all doors giving access to the room are closed and post conspicuous warnings or guards to prevent accidental opening of doors.
  • Report at once all known or suspected inhalations of radioactive materials.  The JHMI Radiation Control Unit will be responsible for the remaining steps.
  • Evaluate the hazard and the necessary safety devices for safe re-entry.
  • Determine the cause of contamination and rectify the condition.
  • Decontaminate the area.
  • Perform air survey of the area before permitting work to be resumed.
  • Monitor all persons suspected of contamination.
  • Prepare a complete history of the accident and subsequent activity related thereto for the necessary records.  Send a copy of the report to the Radiation Safety Committee and appropriate administrators, if any individual has received significant radiation exposure.

Injuries to Personnel Involving Radiation Hazard

  • Wash minor wounds immediately, under running water while spreading the edges of the gash.
  • Report all radiation accidents to personnel (wounds, overexposure, ingestion, inhalation) to the
  • Radiation Safety Officer as soon as possible.
  • Call a physician to treat the injuries at once.
  • Permit no person involved in a radiation injury to return to work without the approval of the Radiation Safety Officer and the attending physician.
  • Prepare a complete history of the accident and subsequent activity related thereto for the necessary records.  Send a copy of the report to the Radiation Safety

Fires or Other Major Emergencies

  • Alert all personnel in immediate danger.
  • Report the fire immediately, regardless of size
    • Pull nearest fire box.
    • Dial 5-4444, tell the operator the building involved, the floor, the kind of fire, your name and extension number.
  • Try to put out manageable fires.  If fire is not manageable, leave the area immediately, close the door, wait for assistance.
  • Permit no person to resume work until work conditions allow.
  • Monitor all persons involved in combating the emergency.
  • Prepare a complete history of the emergency and subsequent activity related thereto for the necessary records.  Send a copy of the report to the Radiation Safety Committee and appropriate administrators, if any individual has received significant radiation exposure.

Each authorized user shall immediately notify the JHMI Radiation Control Unit of any incident involving any source of radiation that may have caused or threatens to cause:

A total effective dose equivalent exceeding 0.05 Sv (5 rem); or

An eye dose equivalent exceeding 0.15 Sv (15 rem); or

A shallow dose equivalent to the skin or extremities or a total organ dose equivalent exceeding 0.5 Sv (50 rem).