Safety guidelines for radioactive lab

Educational computer training

Get instructions with the Safety Officer at the Faculty of Medicine Dr. Debora Rapaport and the safety supervisor at the safety unit, Rinat Edelheit

For educational computer training and instructions, log in mytau, enter Moodle, then perform tutorials on Radiation with isotopes (if you work with isotopes) or radiation for X-ray devices (if you work with Roentgen). Perform the tutorials once a year.

Guidelines for radioactive labs

• Label the door entrance with radioactive signs, add the annual permission for isotopes or X-ray devices

• Personal protective equipment: laboratory coat, double gloves, protective eyewear, dosimeter if needed

• Use proper shielding according to the radioactive decay:  alpha radiation: paper; beta radiation: plexiglas; gamma radiation and X-ray device: lead

• Keep the radioactive material safe: lock the lab door, radioactive material should be kept in a locker container in a refrigerator/freezer with a lock on the doors

• Work in a radioactive marked lab area: conduct your experiments in a tray to ensure that if a spill occurs, the contents would be restricted in the tray, use absorbent paper with a backing plastic in order to prevents any spilled liquids from permeating the surface below the paper

• Never pipette radioactive solutions by mouth

• Do not eat, drink or smoke in a laboratory where radioactive materials are used. Never store foods with radioactive materials

• Label radioactive glassware and utensils that you use

• X-ray equipment:  check your device before starting work, switch the placard light on before operating the machine, check the safelight, the safety door interlock and the emergency button

• Monitor your work with the Geiger when working with radioactive materials

• Minimize time exposure with the isotope source

• Radioactive waste products must be handled properly. At no time should radioactive waste be disposed in regular trash

• Clean-up of a radioactive spill and do not ask for not-trained personnel to handle radioactive materials

• Upon finish the work: clean the area, collect your radioactive waste, monitor the area and yourself using a Geiger counter

Label entrance door and equipments

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Radioactive labels	Lab door with radioactive label and license permission