Environmental Safety Home

Home | Topics | Forms | Documents | Training | DES Sections | Staff | Contact Us

Appendix III

Radiation Emergency Procedures

Radiation Safety Office (RSO)Emergency Numbers
Chem. & Nuclear Engineering Bldg. 090 Room 2124Anytime: 911
University of MarylandDaytime: (301) 314-8336
College Park Campus

Type of Emergency HazardImmediate Precautions Follow Up
Minor Spills Radiation: No immediate radiation hazard to personnel
  1. Notify all persons in room
  2. Confine spill immediately
  3. Notify RSO
Permit no one to work in area until approval of RSO
Major Spills Radiation: May be great hazard to personnel
  1. Notify personnel to vacate room
  2. Make no attempt to clean up spill
  3. Switch off fans and vacate room
  4. Provide temporary barricade
  5. Notify the RSO
Decontamination of personnel and equipment (including spill itself) as prescribed by the RSO
Accident Involving:

Dust    Mist
Fumes    Vapors
Gases

Radiation: Internal hazard due to possible ingestion and inhalation
Contamination: Easily spread when airborne
  1. Notify others to vacate room
  2. Close windows and shut off air
  3. Provide temporary barricade
  4. Notify RSO
Do not re-enter until RSO gives approval
Injuries Involving:
Radiation Hazards
Contaminations
Contamination: Wounds usually greatest hazard
  1. Wash wound immediately under running water
  2. Call Physician - Student Health Center
  3. Notify RSO
Permit no one involved in accident to return to work without approval of RSO and Physician
Fires Involving
Radioactivity
Radiation: Internal hazard from airborne activity
Contamination: May be spread by fire fighting techniques
  1. Pull fire alarm to notify all persons in room and building to evacuate at once
  2. Call the Fire Department (FD) 911 from a safe location
  3. Notify RSO
  4. Meet the FD outside
Govern emergency activities by the restrictions of the RSO
X- RAY InjuriesRadiation: Superficial and/or deep tissue burns
  1. Shut off machine (Do Not alter machine configuration until RSO inspection)
  2. Call Physician - Student Health Center
  3. Notify RSO
Permit no one involved in accident to return to work without approval of RSO and Physician


Appendix IV

Summary of Biosafety Levels Recommended for Infectious Agents

Biosafety Level Practice Technique Safety Equipment Facilities

1Standard Microbiological practicesNone: Primary containment provided by adherence to standard laboratory practices during open bench work. Basic
2Level 1 practices plus: laboratory coats; decontamination of all infectious wastes; limited access; protective gloves and biohazard warning signs as indicated. Partial containment equipment (e.g., Class I or II Biosafety Cabinets) used to conduct mechanical and manipulative procedures that have high aerosol potential that may increase the risk of exposure to personnel. Basic
3Level 2 practices plus: special laboratory clothing; controlled access. Partial containment equipment used for all manipulations of infectious materials. Containment
4 Level 3 practices plus: entrance through a change room where street clothing is removed and laboratory clothing is put on; shower on exit; all wastes are decontaminated on exit from the facility. Maximum containment equipment (e.g., Class III Biosafety Cabinet or partial containment equipment in combination with full-body, air-supplied, positive-pressure personnel suit) used for all procedures and activities.

Maximum Containment

A full description of each biosafety level recommendation is available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health publication "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories" or through DES and the UM Biological Safety Officer.


Appendix V

Table of Incompatible Chemicals

The following substances may react violently with one another and must be kept apart.

Chemical Is Incompatible with
Acetic acid Chromic acid, nitric acid alcohols, ethylene glycol, perchloric acid, peroxides, permanganates
Acetone Concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid mixtures
Acetylene Chlorine, bromine, fluorine, copper, silver, mercury
Acids Bases
Activated
Carbon
Calcium hypochlorite, oxidizing agents
Alkali Metals Water, carbon tetrachloride and other halogenated alkanes, carbon dioxide, halogens
Aluminum
Alkyls
Water
Ammonia, Mercury (e.g., in pressure gauges), laboratory gas chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, iodine, bromine, hydrogen fluoride
Ammonium Acids, powered metals, flammable liquids, chlorates, nitrates, sulfur, fine-particulate organic Nitrate or combustible materials.
Aniline Nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide
Azides Acids
Bases Acids
Bromine See chlorine
Carbon
Tetrachloride
Sodium
Chlorates Ammonium salts, acids, powered metals, sulfur, fine-particulate organic or combustible substances
Chlorine Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, propane, hydrogen, petroleum benzine, benzene, powered metals
Chromic Acid Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor, glycerol, petroleum benzine, alcohols, flammable liquids
Copper Acetylene, hydrogen peroxide
Cumene
Hydroperoxide
Acids, both organic and inorganic
Cyanides Acids
Flammable Liquids Ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens
Fluorine Store separately
Hydrocarbons
(butane, propane,
benzene, etc.)
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, chromic acid, sodium peroxide
Hydrogen Fluoride Ammonia, laboratory gas or solution
Hydrogen Peroxide Copper, Chromium, iron, metals and metals salts, alcohols, acetone, organic substances, aniline, nitromethane, combustibles (solid or liquid)
Hydrogen SulfideFuming nitric acid, oxidizing gases
Iodine Acetylene, ammonia (laboratory gas or solution)
Mercury Acetylene, ammonia
Nitric Acid, Conc. Acetic acid, aniline, chromic acid, prussic acid, hydrogen sulfide, flammable liquids and gases
Oxalic Acid Silver, mercury
Perchloric Acid Acetic anhydride, bismuth and its alloys, alcohols, paper, wood
Phosphorus Sulfur, oxygen-containing compounds with such as chlorates
Potassium See alkali metals
Potassium Chlorate See chlorates
Potassium Perchlorate See chlorates
Potassium
Permanganate
Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid
Silver Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, ammonium compounds.
Sodium See alkali metals
Sodium Peroxide Methanol, ethanol, glacial acetic acid, anhydride,benzaldehyde, carbon disulfide, glycerol, ethylene glycol, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, furfurol
Sulfides Acids
Sulfuric Acid Potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium permanganate

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of incompatible chemicals. See the specific lab standard operating procedures or your Lab Supervisor/Principal Investigator to determine additional material incompatibilities of which to be aware.


Appendix VI
X-7.00(A)
(A) UM Policy Concerning Fire Emergencies
Approved by the President March 6, 1993

  1. Purpose. This is a statement of official University policy for the reporting of fire emergencies and for the evacuation of campus buildings during fire emergencies, in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

  2. Policy. A fire emergency exists whenever:

    1. A building fire evacuation alarm is sounding;
    2. An uncontrolled fire or imminent fire hazard occurs in any building or area of the campus;
    3. There is the presence of smoke, or the odor of burning;
    4. There is spontaneous or abnormal heating of any material, an uncontrolled release of combustible or toxic gas or other material, or a flammable liquid spill.

  3. Procedures.

    Campus buildings shall be immediately and totally evacuated whenever the building evacuation alarm is sounding.

    1. Upon discovery of evidence that a fire emergency exists, an individual shall accomplish, or cause to be accomplished, the following actions:

      1. Sound An Alarm. Activate the building fire alarm in buildings equipped with a manual fire alarm system. Shout a warning and knock on doors as you evacuate in buildings not equipped with a fire alarm.
      2. Shut Off All Machinery and Equipment in Your Area.
      3. Leave the Building at Once.
      4. Call the Fire Department from a Safe Place.

        1. On-Campus phones Dial 911
        2. Off-Campus phones and campus pay phones Dial 911
        3. Use Campus emergency phones;

          • Indoors - Yellow wall phones with red "Emergency" markings (some corridors).
          • Outdoors - Yellow phone boxes with red "Emergency" markings, under blue lights.

        4. When the emergency operator answers, ask for the fire department, give as much specific information as possible. State that you are calling from UM and include the proper name of the building and room number, floor, or other specific area. Do not hang up until released by the dispatcher. A Phone Call Must be Made! All Building Fire Alarms Do Not Notify the Fire Department.

      5. Meet the Fire Department Outside and Direct them to the Emergency.
      6. All fires, even if extinguished or found extinguished, must be reported.
      7. All fire alarms, even if suspected to be false or accidental, must be reported to the fire department.

    2. The evacuation procedures shall be as follows:

      1. It shall be the responsibility of every person to immediately leave a University building whenever the fire alarm is activated or a fire emergency exists.

        All students, faculty, and staff are required to leave the building and remain outside until the emergency is over. No one shall restrict or impede the evacuation.

      2. Department heads are expected to review annually fire prevention and fire survival information with faculty and staff, or to schedule a presentation with DES. Such information is available from the DES for use and distribution.
    3. Whenever it is brought to the attention of the staff of residential buildings, or departmental personnel, that the fire alarm or sprinkler system is inoperable or has been placed out of service, a firewatch shall be established.

      1. Responsible personnel (residential staff, safety committee, etc.) shall be assigned to the firewatch.
      2. The entire building shall be toured at least one time during each hour of the firewatch.
      3. The emergency dispatcher (911) shall be notified each hour that the watch has been performed.
      4. The firewatch shall be maintained at all times that the building is occupied until the fire protection system is repaired.

    4. Interruption of Fire Alarm:

      1. No person may shut off any fire protection or alarm system during a fire emergency incident without the permission of the fire department officer in charge.
      2. No person may shut off any fire protection or alarm system during a bomb threat emergency without the permission of the police officer in charge.
      3. It shall be the responsibility of the University Facilities Management Department to reset or repair any fire protection or alarm system after an emergency incident when notified by the fire or police department in charge. The Facilities Management shall inspect each such system immediately after every emergency incident and place the system in serviceable condition.

      4. The fire and police departments may reset an alarm system only if there is no damage to the system and when it is within their technical capabilities to do so.
      5. Any person desiring to interrupt service to any fire protection or alarm system must obtain permission from the Department of Facilities Management, Work Control Center (301) 405-2222, which shall notify the fire and police departments of every such interruption.
      6. Fire or police department must request the Facilities Management to repair or rest a fire protection system, via the Work Control Center, (301) 405-2222.

    5. Information Release to Media and the Public:

      All information regarding University fires will be released through the DES in cooperation with the Public Information Office. No other University agency or employee may release official statements regarding the cause, origin, or nature of campus fires.

  4. Information.

    Assistance will be provided by the DES to any Department requiring help and advice in its implementation of this UM policy.



We would greatly appreciate your feedback about this site.
XML RSS Feed
Copyright © 2008 University of Maryland DES

University of Maryland   UM Home | Directories | Search | Admissions | Calendar
Maintained by Department of Environmental Safety
Direct questions and comments to safety@umd.edu