Personal Protective Equipment

• Be sure your lab coat is long enough and close/button it completely whenever in the lab. Do not roll up sleeves exposing bare skin.
• Lab coats gathered or with elastic at the wrist are preferred to ones that hang away from the wrist.
• Double gloving is recommended to prevent skin contamination if one glove has a hole or tears.
• Avoid open-toed shoes, shorts and skirts when working with radioactive materials.

Eye Protection and Handling Radioactive Material (RAM)

Wear safety goggles anytime there is a splash hazard. This includes when pouring liquid radioactive waste, handling concentrated solutions, and vortexing samples. Know where the nearest eyewash is located and how to use it.

Using stock vials of RAM

Thaw completely before attempting to take an aliquot from a stock vial. Incomplete thawing may result in a frozen portion of concentrated radioisotope escaping from the vial. Such ice can slide across counters and floors leaving large areas contaminated.

Tube selection in the lab

When using radioactive material, screw top tubes are better than flip top tubes. The more secure the closure of the tube, the less likely it is to pop open, ex. during centrifugation or when heating the contents. Securely-closed tubes prevent spills.

Using incubators with RAM

Whenever possible, place flasks containing RAM cultures or solutions in secondary containers to prevent spills and contamination of the incubator. Use the lowest shelf available in the incubator so that you are not reaching for containers that are over your head. Straining to reach a container can lead to a spill.

Open dishes or flasks containing radioisotope, especially some chemical forms of S-35 [ex. Methionine],
can result in the water within the incubator becoming contaminated. Be careful opening the inner incubator
door to avoid contact with condensation droplets. Place absorbent paper on the counter in front of the
incubator to catch any contamination. Place the incubator as far back on the bench top as feasible. Be sure to survey in front of incubators to check for radioactive contamination.

Spin Columns and RAM

Used spin columns can pose a radiation contamination hazard. When the powder matrix in the column dries, radioactively contaminated powder can be spread around the lab. Place all used spin columns in conical tubes or plastic bags, and then into the radioactive waste container to avoid contamination of the lab.

Ice buckets

Ice buckets used to cool tubes of radioactive material frequently become contaminated. Dispose of the used ice in a sink designated for radioactive material disposal. Rinse the sink well to help the ice melt and to decontaminate the sink before anyone else uses it.

Centrifuge

Balance the centrifuge well to avoid breakage and contamination of the inside of the centrifuge.
Wipe off tubes before centrifugation to avoid contaminating the inside of the centrifuge. Close tubes tightly, preferably using screw top tubes. Let the centrifuge stop completely before opening, especially for bench top models. Broken tubes in a moving centrifuge can spray radioactive material on personnel
and the lab.

Shakers

Place plastic-backed absorbent on a shaker to catch any spills. This allows one to dispose of the contaminated absorbent in the RA waste container, and can save hours of cleaning. This is especially important with shared equipment, which may imply no down time.

Gel Handling

• Wear gloves and lab coat when handling gels.
• Be aware of dose rate from P-32 containing gels.
• Dispose of as a solid or dry RA waste.
• Ensure gel does not run through processor with the autoradiography X-ray film.

Electrophoresis and Autoradiography

Prevent fires with proper use of gel electrophoresis equipment. Ensure proper voltage and avoid running gels overnight when labs are not attended. Equipment should be labeled as containing RAM. Be sure autoradiography cassette is labeled as containing RAM so all potential handlers/users are aware. Cassettes must also be kept secure from loss or theft per MA RCP regulations.

Avoid contamination of a meter

If your geiger counter probe is contaminated, you will not be able to perform safety surveys. Do NOT cover the probe with Parafilm, as this reduces detector efficiency, esp. with C-14 and S-35. Turn/hold the probe sideways to survey your hands so any droplets do not fall onto the pancake probe. Do not touch the probe to surfaces to survey – use ½ inch detector to surface distance.

Post-experimental surveys

Performing radiation contamination surveys periodically during RAM use and immediately after each use of RAM is the “heart” of a good radiation safety program. Find any contamination early, before it is spread around the lab or contaminates others. Frequent surveys are ALARA and save work in the long run.

Change of clothing

It is recommended that those who work directly with radioisotopes keep a change of clothing for emergencies. Spills can happen. If one’s clothing is splashed with radioactive materials [or other chemicals] having a clean set of clothing readily available is very helpful. This can be your own clothing or a set of scrubs, which you can keep in a locker or desk drawer in case it is needed.