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13.00 Emergency Procedures

13.01 Spills of Radioactive Liquids  
13.02 Radiological Emergencies     
13.03 Objectives  
13.04 Administrative Authority Under Accident Conditions   
13.05 Guidelines for Laboratory Supervisor    
13.06 Injured Personnel Involved in a Radiation Accident   
13.07 Emergency Telephone Listing  

13.01 Spills of Radioactive Liquids

1. All spills of radioactive material must be cleaned up promptly.  The responsibility for cleaning or for calling for experienced help rests on the individuals working in the area involved and responsible fore the spill.
   
2. The RSO must be notified immediately of all accidents involving possible body contamination or ingestion of radioactivity by personnel, excessive exposure to radiation, unnecessary contamination of equipment, spread of contamination or difficulty in cleaning up a contaminated area.  The RSO must be notified immediately in the event of loss of radioactive material.

   The following procedures shall be followed.  (In both cases, notify the RSO.)  

   a) Minor Spills (less than 100 µCi of beta/gamma emitters or 10 µCi of alpha-emitters)

   1. Notify all persons not involved in the spill to vacate the room at once.

   2. Permit only the minimum number of persons necessary to deal with the spill in the area.

   3. Confine the spill immediately.

   4. Put on protective gloves and drop absorbent paper on the liquid spill.

   5. Decontaminate, using appropriate radiation monitors to check the progress of the work.

   6. Monitor all persons involved in the spill and the cleaning.

   7. All cleanup material shall be considered to be contaminate and held for disposal as radioactive wastes.

   b) Major Spills (greater than 100 µCi of beta/gamma emitters or 10 µCi of alpha-emitters)

   1. Notify all persons not involved in the spill to vacate the room at once.

   2. If hands are protected from contamination (i.e. gloves), right the container of the spilled liquid.

   3. If the spill is on clothing, discard outer clothing at once and before vacating room.

   4. Vacate and secure the room.  Post the room "Contaminated.  Do Not Enter."

   5. Take immediate steps to decontaminate (use soap and water) involved personnel.  (Shower if possible.)

   6. Notify the RSO as soon as practicable.
      

3. The telephone number of the RSO shall be posted in all areas where radioactive materials are used.
   

13.02 Radiological Emergencies

A radiological emergency is one which involves either the uncontrolled release of radioactive material or the excessive exposure (exposure in excess of the NYSDOH established guides) of personnel to ionizing radiation.  These emergencies will include but not be limited to

1. Personnel exposure (or suspected exposure) to possible internal deposition of radionuclides.  This could be airborne concentrations of radionuclides, body contamination, or inadvertent ingestion.
   

2. Personnel exposure (or suspected exposure) to external radiation in excess of established guides.
   

3. Uncontrolled release of radionuclides to the building, premise, neighborhood, or sewers.
   

4. Accidental contamination of on-site areas or equipment.

13.03 Objectives

1. To mitigate the consequences of the spread of radionuclides to the environment.
   

2. To minimize personnel exposure to ionizing radiation.
   

3. To assure immediate medical attention for injured personnel
   

4. To enable the Departmental Facilities to return to normal operation.

13.04 Administrative Authority Under Accident Conditions

Most accidents can be divided into two phases: 1) the emergency phase which is the period during which the first three objectives (13.03) are met and the nature of the problem is being ascertained and 2) the recovery phase which commences during or immediately following the accident and includes the fourth objective (13.03).

1. Any radiological emergency action shall include immediate notification of the Laboratory Supervisor, the Department Chairman, and the RSO.
   

2. Under no circumstances shall the Facility involved be reactivated without the explicit approval of the 
   RSO.

13.05 Guidelines for Laboratory Supervisor 

The following guidelines are established for use by the laboratory supervisor:

1. Medical assistance should be obtained for 

   1. all injured personnel,

   2. all exposures that exceed 25 Rems.
      

2. Emergency radiological assistance may be requested as deemed necessary only by the RSO or by the chairman of the Radiation Safety Committee.  [For NRC (301) 951-0550, for NYSDOH (518) 402-7590.]
   

3. Notification of outside agencies is required in some cases.  This notification shall be made only by the RSO or the Office of News and Communication.
   

4. The RSO (388-6340) MUST be notified of all radiological emergencies.  (Off hours, call Union College Safety and Security, 388-6911.)

13.06 Injured Personnel Involved in a Radiation Accident

1. The Laboratory Supervisor or other cognizant person shall be notified immediately.
   

2. In the case of injured personnel requiring transportation to the hospital (Ellis Hospital), the procedure is as follows: 

   1. Ambulance required.  
      If, in the judgment of the responsible person present, an ambulance is required, the Office of Safety and Security (ext. 6911) will call an ambulance immediately upon request.  The Office of Safety and Security will provide the ambulance service with directions for reaching the scene of the accident.  A Safety and Security Officer will be sent to the accident scene to assist and make certain the ambulance arrives. 
      

   2. Ambulance not required
      In accordance with Union College practice, injured personnel are taken to Ellis Hospital (or to the infirmary) by a Security Officer in a Union College vehicle.  (On arrival at the scene, the Security Officer may determine that the injured party cannot be safely transported in a sitting position.  In this case, an ambulance will be called.)  
      
      Union College policy also includes the following for accidents in general:

      • The injured party should not be permitted to drive his vehicle if his condition could impair his driving ability.
      • Union College employees shall not use their privately owned vehicles to transport injured persons to Ellis Hospital.

3. Reports

   1. The Installation Supervisor must file a report with the Safety Office as soon as it is practicable and preferably within 24 hours.
      

   2. The Installation Supervisor or the injured person must also complete appropriate sections of Form WC1, "Report of Occupational Injury and Illness."  (Details concerning this form can be obtained from the Office of Risk Management.)
      

   3. A departmental report may also be required.
      
      

13.07 Emergency Telephone Listing

Note: Request for an ambulance or for assistance from the Schenectady Fire Department or Police Department shall be made through the Union College Campus Safety (Ext. 6911).

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