All radioisotope users are trained on the procedures to clean-up small spills of known material.  It is important that before starting work in a lab that the researcher is familiar with the lab and the location of spill clean-up supplies.  A small spilled cleaned-up quickly, safely, and efficiently will not become a large spill.

Small Spill Recovery - SWIM

When you have a spill of radioactive material, you need a method to quickly remember the immediate spill recovery actions.  We use the acronym "SWIM" to help us do this.  SWIM stands for:

Stop the Spill

The spill is considered stopped when it is no longer moving or getting bigger.  Stopping the spill can be as easy as uprighting a vial and placing and absorbent over the liquid, or as difficult as damming the water from an overflowing hot sink!  If the spill is too big to stop quickly by yourself, you may have to make a controlled exit and get help.

Warn Others

Communication is very important in a spill.  Just loudly saying the word "SPILL" is a good beginning.  It lets everyone around you know you have a problem and it gets you help.  When a spill occurs, a loud, clear declaration to everyone of "SPILL" and a quick description of what spilled is recommended.  

By the way, swear words will get attention, but they don't communicate enough information.  Try "SPILL" instead!

Isolate the Area

This can be done with tape, personnel, or signs and locks.  It should be clear where the spill is and the boundaries you establish should be verified free of contamination.  

 If this step is not performed well, your spill will grow!

Minimize Exposure

Proper PPE is required for spill clean-up.  The goal is to keep the contamination off of you and out of you and the radiation you are exposed to at a minimum.  Spills of volatile radionuclides, such as I-125 and S-35, may require respiratory protection if outside a fume hood.  If multiple microcurie quantities of these isotopes are spilled, immediate evacuation will be required.  

Gloves and clothing protection such as lab coats or Tyvek should be worn.  Booties should be placed over the shoes if the spill is on the floor.  Remember, contaminated clothing may be lost forever! 

 Also be aware of bags of accumulated clean-up materials.  These may be radiation sources and should be shielded or put at a distance.

Supplementary actions are spill clean-up, surveys to verify adequacy of cleaning, report writing, investigations, and notification of the Radiation Safety Officer.  Larger spills will require more involvement by radiation safety personnel and more supplemental actions, but the immediate SWIM actions will always apply.

Other Emergencies - What if . . . ?

Don’t panic! Perform the following actions in the most appropriate order that does not spread the contamination:

Carefully remove contaminated clothing (this is why it is good to have a clean lab coat or Tyvec suit available in your spill supplies).

If there is radioactive material on the skin, gently wash the area with warm water and soap. Control the water if possible by plugging the drain or by washing over a plastic tub.

Continue gentle washing until no material can be detected with a contamination survey or you can no longer reduce the amount of material by at least one-half. The Radiation Safety Officer or staff member responding will supervise or direct further decontamination methods if necessary upon arrival or consultation.

If there is radioactive material in your eyes, flush eyes for 15 minutes with water as you would with any chemical in your eyes.

Call the Radiation Safety Officer at 4-3233 or (650) 960-9816 (pager) as soon as it is possible to do so without spreading contamination.

If the injured person is to be taken to the Ames Health Unit, have someone call ahead (4-5287 or 911) and inform them that they will be receiving a "radioactive material contaminated and injured patient" if it is possible to do so. This will allow them time to prep a treatment room.

Remove anti-contamination clothing (gloves, lab coats) and leave at your work area. Calmly evacuate the area per the building emergency action plan. This is one reason we post radioactive material use areas, workbenches, and fume hoods. These areas will always be treated as contaminated. You should not hesitate to leave them in an emergency.

Protect yourself from falling debris. Once the area is safe, follow the appropriate procedures listed above.

If you are using it to control airborne radioactive material, stop your experiment and close the fume hood. Contact the Radiation Safety Officer for guidance on how to proceed. If the hood was not being used to control airborne radioactive material, close the hood and contact the Radiation Safety Officer during normal working hours to coordinate surveying and releasing the hood for repairs.