Radiation Safety
Radioactive Spill Procedures
For intermedate and high level radioactive spills, please consult the UIUC Radiation Safety Manual Emergency Procedures section.
For low-level radioactive spills, which occur more frequently:
- Wear appropriate protective clothing to reduce personnel contamination.
- Mark off area which is contaminated.
- Notify personnel in the area about the contamination.
- Decontaminate from the outside of the spill area towards the center to avoid spreading contamination.
- Soap and water plus elbow grease will usually do the job. However, take care not to roughen the surface during decontamination, as it will make the surface more difficult to decontaminate. For stubborn contamination, consult the Radiation Safety Section for suggested decontamination agents.
- Remove protective clothing when leaving the contaminated area to reduce the spread of the contamination.
- Treat all equipment used during the decontamination process and all run-off as being contaminated. Decontaminate or treat as radioactive waste as appropriate.
- Make a complete record of the decontamination process.
- Monitor the area to ensure thorough decontamination.
Questions?
Contact the Division of Research Safety, Radiation Safety Section (333-2755 or via e-mail) or visit our website: http://www.drs.uiuc.edu/rss/.
Other Radiation Safety Fact Sheets are available from the Radiation Safety Section at our website: http://www.drs.uiuc.edu/rss/factsheets/.
