נהלי עבודה במעבדות עם קרינה (English)
נהלי עבודה, דרישות רפואיות, מידע על מעבדות העובדות עם קרינה בפקולטה למדעי החיים ועוד
Guidelines for safe work with radioactive materials
- Know the nature of the isotope you are working with and get practical training.
- Wear appropriate protective clothing and dosimeters. Laboratory coats, safety glasses and latex gloves must be worn at all times. If you have been issued a dosimeter, it should be worn at all times you are working with high-energy isotopes or x-rays.
- Contain radioactive materials in defined work areas, separated from other areas. It is preferable to maintain rooms used solely for radioactive work.
- Do not eat, drink, smoke or apply cosmetics in an area where radioactive substances are handled.
- Label all containers clearly indicating nuclide, compound, specific activity, total activity, date and name of user. Containers should be properly sealed.
- To avoid contamination from spills, carry out work over a metal or plastic outer tray.
- Any equipment which comes in contact or is used in handling radioisotopes such as pipettors, shields, stirrers, traps etc. must be labeled with the radiation hazard sign.
- Never work with radioactive materials if you have cuts or breaks in the skin of your hands or forearms.
- Plan ahead to minimize time spent handling radioactivity. Carry out an dry run without radioactivity to check your procedures. The shorter the time the smaller the dose.
- Distance yourself from sources of radiation. Doubling the distance from the source quarters the radiation dose (Inverse Square Law).
- Use appropriate shielding for the radiation. For 32P, use 1 cm acrylic screens. 14C, 3H, 35S and 238U used in our faculty do not require shielding.
- Procedures involving volatile solutions or respirable material must be conducted in chemical fume hoods. In the Faculty of Life Sciences, 35S must be opened in fume hoods.
- Laboratories working with high energy isotopes must have their own survey meter (Geiger counter) that is calibrated once a year, for use in laboratories and work areas. It is the responsibility of the PI to ensure the meters are operational.
- Users of radioactive materials are required to survey their work areas (hoods, bench tops, sinks, floors, etc.) after each experiment and at any time there is a reason to suspect a spill or contamination incident. For users of low energy isotopes, surveying the area means carrying out wipe tests.
