Emergency Response: Accidents

Accidents Involving Airborne Radioactivitypdf format, Adobe Acrobat Required (for printing)

Accidents Involving Airborne Radioactivity

  1. Notify others to vacate the area at once. Lab personnel should go to a safe area, avoiding additional contamination of themselves or others.
  2. Shut windows and doors. Switch off any ventilators or fans within the lab. Vacate the area.
  3. Call the Radiation Safety Program office at 229-4275 or 229-6339 at once. During holidays, evenings and weekends call the UWM Police at 9-911 from campus phones, 229-9911 from a cellular phone, or 229-4627 from the WATER Institute. Campus police will contact a member of the Radiation Safety staff. Consult emergency phone list for additional numbers.
  4. Physical Plant will need to be contacted to ensure ventilation is properly shut off. They can be reached at 229-4742 during business hours or 229-4652 after hours.
  5. Do not re-enter the area. Radiation Safety personnel will assess the situation and direct any decontamination activities following a pre-established plan

Accidents Involving Personal Injury

  1. Administer first aid and/or call Campus Police at 9-911 from any campus phone or 229-9911 from a cell phone (from WATER Institute call City Police at 911) for emergency medical assistance. Medical treatment or assistance is the first priority.
  2. Inform emergency response personnel that radioactive materials are involved BEFORE the treatment takes place so they can take appropriate actions to protect themselves as well as prevent the spread of contamination.
  3. Call the Radiation Safety Program office at 229-4275 or 229-6339 at once. During holidays, evenings and weekends call the UWM Police at 9-911 from any hard-wired campus phone or 229-9911 from the WATER Institute. Campus police will contact a member of the Radiation Safety staff. Consult emergency phone list for additional numbers.
  4. After the injured person is treated and removed from the site, Radiation Safety personnel will assess the situation and direct any decontamination activities following a pre-established plan.

Updated February 27, 2008 by SAK