UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
THE EMERGENCY
BOOK
A supplement to the Safety Manual
INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James’s Hospital
2004
Contents
1.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
3
2.
FIRE
4
3.
INSTITUTE FLOOR PLANS
7
4.
FIRST AID
10
5.
CHEMICAL
13
6.
BIOHAZARD
16
7.
RADIATION
18
8.
ELECTRICAL
26
9.
INTRUDER
26
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Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James’s Hospital
2004
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Front Gate (Access to all Emergency Services or assistance after normal working hours)
6081999 (external) or internal ext. 1999
Gardai
Pearse St. Garda:
Kilmainham Garda:
Crumlin Garda:
01-6669000
01-6669700
01-6666200
Front Desk Trinity Centre:
Ext 2147 from Trinity Line or 01-6082147 from any other
St James Fire Alert:
66-2100 from a Trinity Line or 01-4162100 from any other
St James Security:
66-2107 from a Trinity Line or 01-4162107 from any other
(after hours: 66-2059 or 01-4542059)
St James Internal Ambulance/Cardiac Arrest:
66-2222 (from a Trinity Line)
Plumbing, Gas or Electrical Faults:
Ext 1828
Ext 1999 (Outside office hours: Front gate)
College Safety Officer:
Mr T Merriman
1914
Radiological Protection:
Ms E Lee
2887
Hazardous Chemicals:
Dr Michael Bridge
1264
Bio-Safety and Genetic Manipulation:
Dr R Russell
Dr F Falkiner
1194
2137
Bio-Resources:
Mr P Nowlan
1008
Laser:
Dr Louise Bradley
3595
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2004
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FIRE
Familiarise yourself with these procedures now. In a fire you may have to operate in
smoke-filled areas
If you discover a fire or fire-related emergency such as abnormal heating of material, a flammable gas
leak, a flammable liquid spill, smoke, or odor of burning, immediately follow these procedures:
1.
Raise the Alarm

Activate the building alarm by break-glass alarm or ring Front Desk Trinity Centre at 2147 from a
Trinity Line or 01-6082147 from any other. Call “Fire!” to those in vicinity. If Front desk is not
immediately available
Notify the Fire Brigade by dialing Trinity College Front Gate 1999 from a Trinity Line, or 016081999 from any other

Or
St James Fire Alert at 66-2100 from a Trinity Line or 01-4162100 from any other
(St James security: 66-2107 from a Trinity Line or 01-4162107 from any other. After hours: 662059 or 01-4162059)
2.
Tackle the Fire
If you are trained in Fire Fighting and the use of Fire Extinguishers:




Isolate the area by closing windows and doors and evacuate the room
Shut down equipment in the immediate area, if possible
Use a portable fire extinguisher/fire blanket to:

assist yourself to evacuate;

assist another to evacuate; and

control a small fire, if possible
Provide the fire/police with the details of the problem upon their arrival. Special hazard
information you might know is essential for the safety of the emergency responders
3.
Evacuate the Building





If the fire alarms are ringing, you must evacuate the building and stay out until notified to return
Walk quickly to the nearest exit
Obey instructions of the Fire Wardens
Close all Fire Doors
Do not use lifts
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4.
Assemble away from the Fire
(At 1 of the 3 Designated Assemble Points)


Exiting Main Entrance - Assemble at Trinity Centre Car Park beyond wooden fence
Exiting from Old Main Entrance of Trinity Centre - Assemble at adjacent car park opposite
Hospital 2
Exiting from Service Entrance of Trinity Centre - Assemble at Luas Stop

Do not leave these areas as all persons must be accounted for!

Do you know where your exits are?
Consult the enclosed floor plans of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and identify your exits from the
building
Basement: there are two exits, one at the main stairs leading to the main entrance of the Trinity Centre,
the other at the stairs facing James St. In the event of a fire in another part of Trinity Centre, use the latter
exit.
Ground Floor: there are three exits, one leading to main entrance of the Trinity Centre, one at the stairs
opposite Kenny’s Pub, the other at the milling area where the food and drink dispensing machines are
located. Use the latter two in preference.
First Floor: there are two exits, one at the main stairs leading to the main entrance of the Trinity Centre,
the other at the stairs opposite Kenny’s Pub. In the event of a fire in another part of Trinity Centre, use the
latter exit.

Do you know where the break-glass alarms are situated in your vicinity?
There are at least two on each floor. Break glass with either a suitable implement or your cloth-covered
elbow.

Do you know where the fire extinguishers are situated?
There are numerous Fire Points throughout the Institute consisting of pairs of extinguishers, one of which
is usually CO2 -based.

Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?
If you have not received fire-fighting instructions, read the label on the extinguisher now.

Do you know which type of fire extinguisher to use on a particular fire?
TYPE
Class A
Solid Material
Water
YES
Dry Powder
YES
Class B
Flammable Liquids
Class C
Gases
Class D
Burning Metals
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Foam
YES
Carbon Dioxide
YES
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IF YOU FIND A FIRE DOOR HELD OPEN (e.g. BY A WEDGE OR FIRE EXTINGUISHER), OR
FAILING TO CLOSE OWING TO A JAMMING HINGE
CLOSE IT!
THESE DOORS SAVE LIVES, BUT ONLY WHEN CLOSED.
IGNORING OPEN FIRE DOORS IS HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
It is an offence to tamper with Fire Fighting equipment or to disregard the
Fire Emergency Procedure
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2004
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2004
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2004
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2004
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EMERGENCY FIRST AID
Intended for initial treatment only. Medical attention should be sought for all but the most minor injuries.
Small Cuts and Grazes
a)
b)
c)
d)
Open an antiseptic wipe and gently clean away any dirt or grit, or wash with lots of water and soap
Gently dry with a fresh piece of surgical wool
Apply a First Aid dressing or, if the wound is larger, a piece of lint held by a bandage
Seek medical advice if there is any possibility of infection by CI tetani, HIV or Hepatitis viruses
and report to the Accident & Emergency Department immediately
Needle-stick Injury
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Make the wound bleed
Wash with running water and wipe with an alcohol swab
Cover with a waterproof dressing
Report the accident to the Safety Officer
Seek medical advice if there is any possibility of infection by HIV or a hepatitis virus and report to
the Accident & Emergency Department
Bruising
a)
b)
c)
Before treatment, check there are no further injuries present
Put the bruised part at rest in the most comfortable position
Apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling and to relieve pain
To make a cold compress:
Soak a thin towel/large handkerchief/piece of flannel/absorbent cotton wool in cold water. Squeeze out
surplus water and apply the compress to the bruised area. Keep it cool by dripping water on it as required
or replace it by further compresses. Ensure good evaporation by not covering the compress. If necessary,
use open weave material to keep it in place.
Bleeding
a)
b)
c)
d)
The aim of treatment is to stop bleeding and prevent infection
Do not attempt to remove scabs or clots. Avoid the use of a tourniquet that, although stopping the
bleeding, may also lead to damage due to lack of circulation
Application of a firm dressing to the bleeding point will usually stop the bleeding
Where possible, raise the bleeding point above the level of the heart
Eye Injuries

Foreign bodies
a)
Foreign bodies such as eyelashes or particles of grit may enter the eye and rest either on the
exposed surface or under the eyelids. They may cause irritation, pain, redness and watering
b)
Do not rub the eye. The tears induced by the foreign body may wash the particle out. A
similar effect may be achieved by splashing water into the eye
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c)
d)
e)
f)

If the foreign body can be seen on the surface it may be lifted out with the corner of a
handkerchief or tissue
Moving the eye in various directions and gently lifting the upper eyelid over the lower lid
may reveal a hidden foreign body which may then be washed out or lifted out with a
handkerchief
If the foreign body is on the coloured part of the eye (iris or pupil) or if it is stuck to the
surface there may be damage to areas critical to sight so immediate medical advice should
be sought. Repeat, do not rub the eye!
An eye pad or cotton wool pad taped over the closed eye helps to rest the eye and may
relieve discomfort on the way to the Accident and Emergency Department
Chemical
a)
Irrigate the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with plenty of cool water for at least 15
minutes. Forcibly hold eyelids open to ensure effective wash
b)
Check for and remove contact lenses
c)
Get medical attention promptly
Burns
Burns may be caused by hot liquids or solids, by liquid and solid chemicals, electricity and fire.
For minor burns (first or second degree), hold the affected area under cold water for at least 15 minutes. If
the burn occurred through clothing, remove this first. Wash with cold water and dry gently.
Intact blisters are usually left alone unless they are causing pain due to tension. Apply antiseptic cream
and cover with a dressing. Change the dressing twice a week.
In the case of serious burns (third degree), call for medical assistance.
Electric Shock
a)
b)
c)
Switch off current - if live wires are exposed use a DRY insulated object to cut off the power supply
If shock or serious injury has occurred summon medical aid immediately. Keep the patient
comfortable until its arrival. Treat for cardiac or respiratory arrest if necessary
Seek medical aid for all electric burns
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
If a person collapses or is found unconscious:
a)
Call for help
b)
If breathing or heart beat have stopped
 Call the hospital cardiac arrest team
 Summon medical help from within the laboratory
 Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Artificial Respiration (The Kiss of Life)
a)
Lay the patient face-up, loosen all tight clothing and make certain that the mouth and throat are not
blocked by the tongue, loose food particles, dentures or even broken teeth
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b)
Now tilt the head right back: this straightens the windpipe and thus helps breathing. Place one hand
over the forehead and the other on the chin. Gently pull up the jaw and blow into the patient's
mouth - KEEPING THE NOSE OCCLUDED
c)
Alternatively, if blowing into the nostrils, keep the patient's mouth tightly closed. Resuscitation
should be interrupted to allow the patient to exhale. Continue this 10-15 times per minute –
BEWARE!, if the patient shows signs of vomiting or gagging, turn the head and body to one side
and KEEP ALL AIR PASSAGES UNBLOCKED
Cardiac Massage
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Place yourself at the side of the patient
Feel for the lower half of the breastbone
Place the heel of your hand on this part of the bone keeping palm and fingers off the chest
Cover this hand with the heel of the other hand
With arms straight, rock forwards pressing down on the lower half of the breastbone (in an
unconscious adult, it can be pressed towards the spine for about 4 cm). Repeat the pressure 80-100
times a minute
NEVER GIVE UP HOPE. CONTINUE THE KISS OF LIFE AND CARDIAC MASSAGE UNTIL
THE VICTIM’S NATURAL BREATHING RHYTHM AND PULSE ARE STRONG AGAIN or
UNTIL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ARRIVES
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2004
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CHEMICAL
Cleaning Up Chemical Spills



Try to anticipate the types of chemical spills that can occur in your laboratory and obtain the
necessary equipment (spill kits and personal protective equipment) to respond to a minor spill.
Learn how to clean up minor spills of the chemicals you use regularly, safely
Familiarise yourself with the Chemical Spill Kits near you
Familiarise yourself with the MSDS for chemicals used in your laboratory
Minor Chemical Spill
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Alert people in immediate area of spill
Increase ventilation in area of spill (open windows, turn on hoods)
Wear personal protective equipment, including safety goggles, gloves and long-sleeve lab coat
Avoid breathing vapors from spill
Use appropriate kit to neutralize and absorb inorganic acids and bases. Collect residue, place in
container, and dispose as hazardous chemical waste
For other chemicals, use appropriate kit or absorb spill with vermiculite, dry sand, diatomaceous
earth or paper towels. Collect residue, place in container, and dispose as chemical waste
Clean spill area with water
Major Chemical Spill
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure
Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate
If spilled material is flammable, turn off ignition and heat sources. Place other device (plastic bag)
over spilled material to keep substance from volatilizing
Call Emergency Number
Close doors to affected area
Have a person with knowledge of the incident and laboratory available to answer questions from
responding emergency personnel
Mercury Spills
a)
b)
c)
Use a vacuum line with an in-line dry trap attached to a tapered glass tube similar to a medicine
dropper to pick up mercury droplets
Cover small droplets in inaccessible areas with one of the following:

Powdered sulfur

Powdered zinc
Place residue in a labeled container and dispose of as hazardous chemical waste
Alkali Metal Spills
Smother with powdered graphite, sodium carbonate, or calcium carbonate.
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2004
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Personal Contamination and Injury
1. General Information
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Know the locations of the nearest safety shower
Report all incidents and injuries to your supervisor
If an individual is contaminated or exposed to a hazardous material in your laboratory, do what is
necessary to protect their life and health as well as your own. Determine what the individual was
exposed to. The MSDS will contain special first aid information
Do not move an injured person unless they are in further danger (from inhalation or skin exposure)
A blanket should be used immediately to protect the victim from shock and exposure
Get medical attention promptly by dialing
2. Chemical Spills on the Body
a)
b)
c)
d)
Quickly remove all contaminated clothing and footwear
Immediately flood the affected body area with cold water for at least 15 minutes. Remove jewellery
to facilitate removal of any residual material
Wash off chemical with water only. Do not use neutralizing chemicals, unguents, creams, lotions or
salves
Get medical attention promptly
It should be noted that some chemicals (phenol, aniline,) are rapidly adsorbed through the skin. If a large
enough area of skin is contaminated, an adverse health effect (systemic toxicological reaction) may occur
immediately to several hours after initial exposure depending on the chemical. If more than 9 square
inches of skin area has been exposed to a hazardous chemical, seek medical attention after washing the
material off the skin. If the incident involves hydrofluoric acid (HF), seek immediate medical attention.
Provide the physician with the chemical name.
3. Chemical Splash in the Eye
a)
b)
c)
Irrigate the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with plenty of cool water for at least 15 minutes. Use
eyewash or other water source. Forcibly hold eyelids open to ensure effective wash
Check for and remove contact lenses
Get medical attention promptly
4. Ingestion of Hazardous Chemicals
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Identify the chemical ingested
First aid measures should be carried out according to MSDS
Call for an ambulance
Cover the injured person to prevent shock
Provide the ambulance crew and physician with the chemical name and any other relevant
information. If possible, send the container, MSDS or the label with the victim
5. Inhalation of Smoke, Vapors and Fumes
a)
Anyone overcome with smoke or chemical vapors or fumes should be removed to uncontaminated
air and treated for shock
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b)
c)
d)
Do not enter the area if you expect that a life threatening condition still exists - oxygen depletion,
explosive vapors or highly toxic gases (cyanide gas, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxides, carbon
monoxide)
Follow standard CPR protocols
Get medical attention promptly
6. Burning Chemicals on Clothing
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Extinguish burning clothing by using the drop-and-roll technique with a fire blanket (see fire
blanket cover)
Remove contaminated clothing, however, avoid further damage to the burned area. If possible, send
the clothing with the victim
Remove heat with cool water or ice packs until tissue around burn feels normal to the touch. Do not
apply ice directly to the site
Cover injured person to prevent shock
Get medical attention promptly
Actions to be Avoided During Emergencies
There are some actions, which must not be taken when handling emergencies. These include:

Do not force any liquids into the mouth of an unconscious person

Do not handle emergencies alone, especially without notifying someone that the accident has
occurred

Do not linger at the accident scene if you are not one of the emergency responders
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BIOHAZARD
BIOHAZARD SPILL CLEANUP PROCEDURES

Depending on the size of the spill, notify everyone in the laboratory and call your biohazard
representative
If a spill contains Class 2 or higher containment material, or if the spill is considered too large or
too dangerous for laboratory personnel to safely clean up, secure the entire laboratory and call
Hospital Infection Control immediately for assistance

If the spill occurs:
1.
Inside the BioSafety Cabinet (BSC)
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
2.
Wait at least five minutes to allow the BSC to contain aerosols
Wear laboratory coat, safety glasses and gloves during cleanup
Allow BSC to run during cleanup
Apply disinfectant and allow a minimum of 20 minutes contact time
Wipe up spillage with disposable disinfectant-soaked paper towels
Wipe the walls, work surfaces and any equipment in the cabinet with disinfectant-soaked paper
towels
Discard contaminated disposable materials using appropriate bio-hazardous waste disposal
procedures
Place contaminated reusable items in biohazard bags or autoclavable pans with lids or wrap in
newspaper before autoclaving
Expose non-autoclavable materials to disinfectant (20 minutes contact time) before removal
from the BSC
Remove protective clothing used during cleanup and place in a biohazard bag for autoclaving
Run BSC 10 minutes after cleanup before resuming work or turning BSC off
In the Laboratory, Outside the Biosafety Cabinet
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Call the Safety Officer if the material is Class 2 or greater
Clear area of all personnel. Wait at least 30 minutes for aerosol to settle before entering
spill area
Remove any contaminated clothing and place in biohazard bag to be autoclaved
Put on a disposable gown, safety glasses and gloves
Initiate cleanup with disinfectant as follows:
 Place dry paper towels on spill then layer a second set of disinfectant soaked paper towels
over the spill
 Encircle the spill with additional disinfectant being careful to minimize aerosolization
while assuring adequate contact
 Decontaminate all items within the spill area
 Allow at least a minimum of 20 minutes contact time to ensure germicidal action of
disinfectant
 Wipe equipment and reusable items with appropriate disinfectant
 Discard contaminated disposable materials using appropriate bio-hazardous waste
disposal procedures
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3.
In a Centrifuge
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
4.
Clear area of all personnel
Wait 30 minutes for aerosol to settle before attempting to cleanup spill
Wear a laboratory coat, safety glasses and gloves during cleanup
Remove rotors and buckets to nearest BSC for cleanup
Thoroughly disinfect inside of centrifuge
Discard contaminated disposable materials using appropriate bio-hazardous waste disposal
procedures
Outside the Laboratory, In Transit
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Discard contaminated disposable materials using appropriate bio-hazardous waste disposal
procedures
To prevent a spill, transport labeled bio-hazardous material in an unbreakable, well-sealed
primary container placed inside of a second unbreakable, lidded container (cooler, plastic pan
or pail) labeled with the biohazard symbol
Should a spill occur in a public area, do not attempt to clean it up without appropriate personal
protection equipment
Secure the area, keeping all people well clear of the spill
Call for assistance in cleanup
Stand by during spill response and cleanup activity and provide assistance only as requested or
as necessary
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RADIATION
The sources of ionising radiation in use in College include sealed sources, unsealed sources and irradiating
apparatus. Possible emergencies related to the use of these sources of ionising radiation can be broadly
defined in five categories, as follows:
A.
Fire
B.
Loss or Theft of a licensed item
C.
Damage to sealed sources
D.
Faults in safety systems of irradiating apparatus
E.
Spills of unsealed sources
The following are the emergency procedures to be implemented in the event of each of the above
categories of emergency:
A.
Fire
Should a fire occur in a lab/room where sources of ionising radiation (sealed or unsealed) are stored/used,
the following procedure should be implemented by the person becoming aware of the fire:
1.
Raise the Alarm and Evacuate

Raise the fire alarm, by breaking the glass at the nearest break glass unit

Ring Front gate security at ext. 1999 internal (01-6081999 external), and advise of the
location, and size of the fire, and that there are sources of ionising radiation in the room. If
the emergency services need to be contacted such as the fire brigade or ambulance, these
should be contacted through the front gate security staff who can open gates for them and
direct them into the appropriate area of College etc

Attempt to fight the fire with an appropriate fire extinguisher, only if you have been trained
in the use of fire extinguishers, if the fire is small and manageable, you have raised the
alarm first, and you have a clear escape route. *

If possible, before leaving the lab, remove any sources of ionising radiation within their
shielded containers from the immediate danger area. *

Leave the building immediately by the nearest route, closing doors and windows in the lab
if possible before leaving. In general, all lab services, except lighting, but including
ventilation, should be switched off and all doors and windows should be closed. However
when radioactive gas or vapour, such as tritiated water vapour is to be dispersed,
mechanical ventilation should be left on, and with discretion, some windows may be left
open

Go to your assembly point providing that it is upwind of the building and the fire

Stay upwind of the building and the fire after emergency evacuation and direct others to do
the same
* Please note: Your personal safety is of paramount importance in the event of a fire. Do not attempt to
fight the fire, remove materials, or close windows / doors if doing so would endanger your
personal safety.
2.
Notify the Proper Authorities
After retreating to a safe area, you should then:
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 Notify the Departmental Radiological Protection Supervisor (DRPS) (Contact details at end
of this document)
 Notify the College Radiological Protection Officer (RPO) (Ph. 6082887)
 The College Radiological Protection Officer will notify the RPII immediately in the event
of an emergency situation, and in particular if the fire is not brought immediately under
control, or if there is a risk of exposure of persons to ionising radiation.
3.
Sealed/Unsealed: Determine the types and activities involved and likely consequences
Where sealed or unsealed sources are involved in a fire, the DRPS should be consulted to determine
from the departmental inventory the quantities, activities and types of sources that are stored/used in
that room, and from this information, determine the likely consequences resulting from the fire in
terms of possible exposures. Each DRPS should attempt to determine this information for each lab
area in their dept. prior to any possible emergency arising, so that this information is readily
available in the event of an emergency. This information should be given to any emergency services
personnel eg. fire services that attend the incident.
4.
X-Ray Machines:Unplug
Should a fire occur in a room where irradiating apparatus such as X- Ray Machines are used, the
machine should be switched off and unplugged, and the general procedures outlined above with
regard to raising the alarm, attempting to extinguish the fire, and evacuating the building will also
apply thereafter.
Before reusing any irradiating apparatus after a fire in a room accommodating it (if indeed it is still
operational), it should be subject to a full examination by a competent person including testing of
safety systems, interlocks etc.
B.
Loss or Theft (of any licensed item, i.e. sealed or unsealed sources or irradiating equipment)
1.
Notify the Proper Authorities

Notify the Departmental Radiological Protection Supervisor (DRPS) (Contact details at end
of this document)

Notify the Departmental Radiological Protection Supervisor (DRPS) (Contact details at end
of this document)

Notify the College Radiological Protection Officer (RPO) (Ph. 6082887)

Notify the RPII (Contact details at end of this document)
The normal procedure should be that the person becoming aware of the loss/theft of the item should
notify the DRPS, the DRPS should notify the RPO, and the RPO should notify the RPII.
2.
Provide Relevant Information

Give details of the ionising radiation source, its form (sealed, unsealed, irradiating
apparatus), and details of the quantity, activity and concentration where relevant

Provide as much detail as possible about the circumstances leading to the loss or theft of the
item

Provide details regarding labelling or packaging of the item, as this will be of relevance if
the source is found by or comes into contact with a member of the public. For instance,
does it have a radiation trefoil sign, or a Transport Index indicating that it could be
hazardous to be in close proximity to the original container?
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3.
Search for Lost Items

Undertake an immediate search for the source if it is thought to be lost

While the search is underway, there should be no sweeping of floors, no removal of waste,
and no disturbing of furniture etc

Examine all relevant records, storage inventories and usage records, speaking to all users,
regarding when the material was used last, where it was stored etc

If there is any reason to suspect that a lost source might have become damaged, the
possibility of contamination by spilled radioactive substance should be borne in mind, and
procedure with regard to spillages and decontamination as outlined under section E below,
may need to be applied
4.
Notify Gardai if Theft is Suspected
Notify the Gardai immediately if theft is suspected, and give as much information as possible
regarding the nature of the radioactive material and the circumstances leading to the suspected theft.
The greatest danger with loss or theft of radioactive materials is the hazard presented to someone
who comes into contact with radioactive materials and is unaware of the hazard. It is imperative
therefore that action is taken immediately it is suspected that radioactive materials are missing. It
would be unacceptable to wait days or weeks hoping that the missing materials will ‘turn up’.
C.
Damage to Sealed Sources
1.
Discontinue use of Damaged Source Immediately

All sealed sources in College are subject to routine leak tests at least once every 2 years. If
sources fail this leak test, they will not be licensed for use in College

However sealed sources may become damaged due to for example, overt mechanical
damage, chemical corrosion, or use in hostile conditions. It is important therefore that they
are stored and used correctly, and in appropriate conditions

If a sealed source becomes damaged, there is a risk of contamination with the radioactive
material contained in the sealed source

Use of the damaged source must discontinue immediately
2.
Seek advice and assistance from a competent person

The DRPS in the department licensed to use the sealed source may not necessarily have the
expertise or equipment such as contamination monitors, decontamination kits, available to
him/her to deal with such an event. A DRPS familiar with the use of unsealed sources such
as the DRPS for Biochemistry or Genetics for example, should be contacted for advice and
assistance, as should the College RPO (Contact details at end of this document)

The College RPO and/or available DRPS will assess potential contamination to personnel
involved and equipment

Procedures with regard to personnel and equipment decontamination as outlined in section
E below with regard to spills of unsealed sources will then be applied
D.
Faults in Safety Systems of Irradiating Apparatus
1.
Isolate Equipment, Prevent Use and Report to DRPS and College RPO
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All irradiating apparatus must be routinely and adequately serviced and maintained by a competent
person, to ensure that it is in a serviceable condition, and that all safety devices, and interlocks etc.
are operational. Irradiating apparatus that is operating incorrectly can be made safe by operating an
emergency cut off switch and / or isolating the equipment from the mains supply. Any equipment
indicating a fault in a safety system such as an interlock must not be used and must be reported at
once to the DRPS who should instigate the necessary repair / service.
2.
Investigate Overexposures
Any case of overexposure or suspected overexposure must be reported to the DRPS and College
RPO for investigation and dosimeters must be sent for analysis immediately.
E.
Spills of Unsealed Sources
Spills can be categorised as Minor or Major Spills. The general priorities in dealing with spills are as
follows:

Deal with any personal injury or administer any first aid necessary first

Alert people in the area to the spill

Limit access to the area

Take all reasonable precautions to limit the spread of radioactive contamination

Confine the movement of people until they have been monitored and found free of contamination

Notify the DRPS and CRPO if necessary

Initiate clean up and decontamination operations under DRPS supervision
1.
Minor Spill (Contamination to a small area and no personnel contamination)

Alert people in the lab area that a spill has occurred

Limit access to the affected area

Put on protective clothing, lab coat, disposable gloves and overshoes

Cover a liquid spill with absorbent paper or pads. Place damp towels over spills of dry
powder

Monitor personnel and remove any contaminated clothing

Notify your Departmental Radiological Protection Supervisor (DRPS) (Contact details at end
of this document)

If DRPS is unavailable, contact the College Radiological Protection Officer (RPO) (Ph.
6082887), or the College Safety Officer / Deputy RPO (Ph.6081914)

If outside of working hours, ring front gate security at ext.1999 internal (6081999 external),
and ask for radiation safety assistance

Deal with personal contamination following the guidelines outlined below

Clean and decontaminate relevant surfaces, equipment and clothing as required, following the
guidelines outlined below

Dispose of all contaminated material as radioactive waste
2.
Major Spill (Personnel contaminated or large areas affected)

Put on protective clothing, lab coat, disposable gloves and overshoes. Consideration may also
need to be given also to wearing of additional PPE such as particle/vapour respirator if
volatile radioactive materials, radioactive aerosols, or airborne radioactive dust or gases are
involved, and a radiation body-shield, such as a lead apron may be required in some instances
etc
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















Attend to injured or contaminated persons, (Taking appropriate personal precautions and
where appropriate placing any casualties on plastic sheeting to limit spread of contamination)
Where possible do not remove contaminated individuals from the contaminated area, to limit
the spread of contamination, however where urgent first aid is required or there is a danger of
increasing exposure to an individual by remaining in the contaminated area, limiting the
spread of contamination should not take precedence over personal health and safety issues,
and where necessary, therefore contaminated persons should be removed from the immediate
contaminated area to an adjacent safe area within the lab
Take all reasonable precautions to limit the spread of radioactive contamination by for
example, laying down ‘BenchKote’ or similar sheeting eg. builders’ plastic damp proof
membrane, and wearing plastic disposable over-shoes etc
Cover a liquid spill with absorbent paper or pads. Place damp towels over spills of dry
powder
Advise non contaminated persons present to vacate the laboratory, and prevent others from
entering the laboratory
Monitor persons remaining for contamination
Remove contaminated clothing
Deal with personal contamination following the guidelines outlined below
Confine movement of all potentially contaminated personnel to prevent further spread of
contamination
Notify your Departmental Radiological Protection Supervisor (DRPS) (Contact details at end
of this document). Notify the College Radiological Protection Officer (RPO) (Ph. 6082887),
or the College Safety Officer / Deputy RPO (Ph.6081914). Notify front gate security at
ext.1999 internal (6081999 external), and advise of the situation. If emergency services such
as ambulance services need to be provided, ask front gate to arrange this, and tell them your
exact location. If outside of working hours, front gate can contact the College RPO or
College Safety Officer
Notify the Principal Investigator
Make safe any functioning apparatus, turn off ventilation and other services, (except where
radioactive gas or vapour, such as tritiated water vapour is to be dispersed) close doors and
windows. Lock and seal off room if necessary
Restrict access to the contaminated area, by cordoning off the immediate area
Identify the radionuclide and estimate the activity, and display this information on a warning
sign
Measure and note the contamination before and after a decontamination attempt in order to
assess its effect, to estimate the radiation dose, and to allow a record to be made of the
activity disposed
Clean and decontaminate relevant surfaces, equipment and clothing as required, following the
guidelines outlined below
Dispose of all contaminated material as radioactive waste
3.
Cleaning of Spills and Decontamination
a)
Decontamination of Contaminated Surfaces

Restrict access to essential clean up personnel only

Put on protective clothing, lab coat, disposable gloves and overshoes. Consideration may also
need to be given also to wearing of additional PPE such as particle/vapour respirator if
volatile radioactive materials, radioactive aerosols, or airborne radioactive dust or gases are
involved, and a radiation body-shield, such as a lead apron may be required in some instances
etc
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


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

b)
Cover a liquid spill with absorbent paper, tissues, or pads. Place damp towels over spills of
dry powder
Mop up the spill with the absorbent paper towards the centre
Seal contaminated items in a plastic bag for disposal or cleaning. (do not try to decontaminate
disposable items)
Monitor the affected surface, if contamination is excessive, then wash the surface with a
decontaminating agent, such as ‘Decon’, ‘Count Off’, ‘Lipsol’ etc
Mop up the washing fluid with disposable towels, and seal the towels in a plastic bag for
subsequent disposal
Monitor the surface
If contamination is persistent, repeat the above washing procedure
If repeated washing is not effective, remove the surface if possible, store it in an appropriate
secure area eg. radioactive waste store, and allow the contamination to decay, or where this is
not possible / feasible, cover the surface with a plastic sheet, and perspex board (for Betas),
restrict access and allow activity to decay.
Decontamination of Equipment
If equipment is contaminated, the same general clean up rules as outlined above will apply,
however care should be taken not to use a decontaminating agent that will attack the material from
which the equipment is made. Equipment may need to be dismantled and individual parts
decontaminated. If persistent, take the equipment out of use, store in an appropriate secure area eg.
radioactive waste store, and allow activity to decay if half life permits, otherwise treat as radioactive
waste and arrange for long term storage or disposal if possible.
c)
Decontamination of Clothing

Wear disposable gloves

Remove clothing taking care to minimise the spread of contamination to the body and the
environment

Monitor activity on the clothes

Do not wash clothes if the activity present exceeds the liquid waste disposal limits as outlined
in SI125 of 2000. In this case the clothes should be stored in a suitable secure storage
container, and must be stored until ‘delay and decay’ allows for compliance with these limits

Once activity limits can be complied with, seal the clothes in an alginate bag (used also for
washing biologically contaminated clothes, stitching dissolves in the wash), and wash in a
washing machine

Monitor again after washing
d)
Decontamination Kit
Each department working with unsealed sources should keep an adequately stocked
decontamination kit in their department. This kit should be stored in a readily accessible place, and
an inventory should be kept of the items with a regular check carried out to ensure that the kit is
complete.
Recommended contents are as follows:

Protective clothing, including, overalls, disposable gloves, appropriate particle/vapour
mask/respirator, and disposable overshoes

Miscellaneous equipment such as, plastic floor covering, plastic bucket, polythene bags with
radiation trefoil, roll of paper towel, paper tissues, adhesive tape with trefoil symbol, large
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
tweezers, note book and pen, scissors, nail brush, warning signs with trefoil symbol, string,
and marker pen
Decontamination agents such as, soap, decon, potassium permanganate, sodium bisulphide,
saline, sterile water, potassium iodide
4.
Dealing with Personal Contamination
a)
External Personal Contamination
Note: Do not use safety shower to remove contamination as this is likely to spread contamination
further.

Skin/Hands: Take care not to damage the skin. Do not scrub. Wash gently with water and a
mild, non-abrasive soap, and use a soft nail brush if necessary. Dry with disposable towels.
Monitor the area and repeat once or twice more. Try to reduce the spread of contamination
by covering non contaminated areas of skin and cleaning the affected area towards the
centre of the contaminated area. When dealing with skin contamination, pay particular
attention to creases, folds, fingernails, inter-digital spaces and outer edges of the hand. If
this is unsuccessful, and contamination persists, as a last resort hands may be steeped in 4%
permanganate solution, allowed to dry and finally wiped with 5% sodium bisulphite
solution.

Wounds: Contaminated wounds should be washed under running water and reasonable
bleeding should be encouraged. Care should be taken not to contaminate eyes, mouth or
nostrils. The wound should finally be washed with water, dried by wiping away from the
edges of the wound, and dressed. Monitor any swabs used for drying.

Mouth: Remove any dentures and scrub if necessary. Warn the subject not to swallow.
Wash the mouth out several times with water and brush teeth away from gums. Ensure that
washings run away from other orifices.

Eyes: Should be irrigated with water or saline solution, ensuring that the fluid dose not
spread to other parts of the body, and in particular runs away from other orifices.

Ear: Trained medical staff should be asked to syringe out contaminated ears with water at
body temperature.

Nose: Blow nose into a tissue and expectorate into a disposable cup. If the contamination is
still high, then consider nasal irrigation, preferably under medical supervision. In
undertaking nasal irrigation, it is important to tilt the head forward with the nasal bone
roughly vertical so that irrigation fluid flows back out of the nostrils rather than into the
nasopharynx or frontal sinuses. Irrigate with saline or sterile water. The subject should be
seated with a waterproof cover over the trunk and lap, and can regulate the flow of liquid by
pinching the irrigation tube which should be held just inside the nostril. Collect the
irrigation fluid into a receptacle on the subject’s lap and monitor. Blow nose, expectorate,
and monitor products and nasal orifices. Repeat irrigation if necessary.

Hair: Shampoo hair with soap or cetrimide, making sure that the washings run off the head
without contamination to other parts of the body, particularly orifices (eyes, ears, nose,
mouth). If necessary, trim off affected area of hair and retain clippings for monitoring.
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
Nail: Cut away as much as possible of the contaminated nail and monitor the clippings.
Decontaminate around and under the nail as for skin.
Decontamination should continue until monitoring (swabs counted by LSC or Mini-Monitor, as
appropriate) shows that contamination shows that contamination has been removed, unless there is a
danger of contamination entering the blood from skin being broken by decontamination procedures.
b)
Internal Personal Contamination
Where radioactivity has been ingested, medical attention should be sought immediately. Under
medical supervision, various actions can be taken to eliminate certain radionuclides from the body
or to reduce the absorption of radioactivity, as outlined below:







Potassium Iodide will reduce thyroidal uptake of absorbed radionuclide
Potassium perchlorate will reduce uptake of iodide and pertechnetate in breast milk and will
displace pertechnetate from the thyroid, salivary glands and the stomach
Increasing fluid intake will help to eliminate tritium
Potassium ferric cyanoferrate (Prussian blue) will reduce uptake of thallium and caesium
from the gut
Chelates such as DTPA and EDTA with a high binding constant for metals will scavenge
radiometals from the circulation and will then be excreted in urine
It may be possible to administer a stable isotope of the radionuclide if not toxic
Absorption of radioactivity from the gut can be reduced by:

administration of competitive ions

a stomach pump

an emetic

an enema

absorption of radioactivity from the lungs can be reduced by pulmonary lavage, but
the attendant risks and benefits must be considered
It must be stressed that in all cases, the toxicity of any inactive compound must be known, and the
administration must be carried out under medical supervision. Internal radioactivity must be
monitored and the activity in tissue specimens assayed where possible in order to assess the
effectiveness of any of these measures.
Contact Details of Relevant Personnel:
College RPO:
Elaine Lee @ 6082887
College Safety Officer/Deputy College RPO: Tom Merriman @ 6081914
Contact details of RPII:
Office hours:
David Fenton, Jarlath Duffy, or John O’Grady @ 2697766
Outside office hours: The RPII operates a 24-hour, 7 day a week on – call system to provide a
response to any accident or emergency situation involving radiation
Contact details of Front Gate (for Access to all Emergency Services or assistance after
normal working hours):
01 - 6081999 (external) or internal ext. 1999
Prepared by: Elaine Lee, Radiation Protection Officer
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ELECTRICAL
To help a person suffering from electric shock the following steps should be followed:

Shout for help

If possible switch off the power

Release victim from contact when current is off

If power cannot be switched off immediately, pull or push casualty clear using nonconducting
material such as a wooden chair or brush handle

Unless wearing thick rubber-soled shoes or boots, stand on lino rubber or wood while pushing
victim clear

Send for medical assistance

If casualty is breathing, place in recovery position, then get casualty to Accident & Emergency
Department

If casualty is not breathing begin resuscitation procedure
DO NOT TOUCH CASUALTY WITH BARE HANDS UNLESS POWER IS SWITCHED OFF
INTRUDER
During normal working hours:

If you see or are approached by a stranger behaving suspiciously in the Institute, act discreetly

You should feel free to request that person to identify themselves and their business in the Institute

When in doubt, or if the person is acting in a hostile or violent fashion, contact Security at reception
desk

If no immediate response, contact St James Security, or as a last resort, the Gardai at Kilmainham
Out of hours:

When you sign in at Reception, check to see who else has signed in and out for that period. Anyone
operating in the Institute who has not signed in must be regarded with suspicion

Do not attempt to challenge strangers in the Institute out of hours

Go to the nearest room where you can lock yourself in and use your mobile or nearby phone to ring
St James Security. If no response phone Front Gate Trinity, or if no response there, phone Gardai at
Kilmainham

Remain in the locked room until security arrives
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