Q. Is it safe to handle packages of

A

radioactive materials?

Packages of radioactive material are
safe to handle under normal condi-
tions. The radiation exposure received
from handling these packages is too
low to have any noticeable effect. For
example, it will not make you sterile or
impotent.

However, you should still try to
avoid unnecessary radiation exposure
by following the Time-Distance rules
described earlier in this booklet.

In case of an accident, it may or
may not be safe to handle radioactive
materials packages. Be sure to stay
away from a package that has been
badly damaged oris leaking.



Packages of radioactive material are safe to
handle under normal conditions. Studies
show that cargo handlers get very little
radiation exposure from handling them.

However, you should always follow good
work habits that will prevent unnecessary
exposure to any hazardous sources,
including radiation.

ry


Stow packages away from areas occupied
by people.

Don’t place packages in the cab with the
driver.



Time Rule
Keep contact time with packages short

Do not take rest periods near radioactive
materials packages.

Do not use packages as meeting places.

Do not do time-consuming tasks, such
as paperwork, near packages.

Handle packages without delay when
moving them from one place to another.

Do not hang around packages.



The radiation dose you receive depends
on how long you stay near a radioactive
materials package. It also depends on how
close you are to the package, because the
radiation level drops off rapidly as you get
farther away from the package.

Therefore, the basic rules to follow to
Prevent unnecessary radiation exposures
are called the TIME and DISTANCE rules.
They are given onthe next four pages.

In case of accidents, you can receive
higher exposures if you do not handle the
situation properly. The steps you should
follow if there is an accident are given on
page 10



Distance Rule
Keep packages some distance away
from you and other people

+ Store packages some distance away
from offices, locker rooms and usually
occupied work areas.

When moving packages a long way, use
acart or truck that will let you leave a few
feet between you and the radioactive
materials packages.

Position radioactive materials packages
so people don’t have to stand next to
them while handling other packages.
Store packages at the farthest distance
when there is a convenient choice of
locations.

Do not store packages with transport
indexes (Tls) that add up to more than
50 atany one location.

Use a cart to keep packages some dis-
tance away from you when moving them a
long way.

a


How to handle
Radioactive
materials
packages |

A guide for
\cargo handlers

U.S. Department of Transportation
and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Revised April 1999



Do not clean up the area where the acci-
dent occurred. This must be done under
the direction of specialists.



What To Do In Case of an Accident

1. Stay away from the package and do not
touchit.

2. Keep other people away from the

package.

Notify your supervisor. He or she will call

for help.

Tell anybody who may have touched

the package to go to a control point to

be checked by radiation protection

specialists.

5. Wash your hands thoroughly if you

touched the package or objects nearit.

Have yourself checked by a radiation

protection specialist before you leave

work.

e

&

a



Do notuse packages as adesk



Most radioactive materials packages
contain radioactive drugs that are being
transported to hospitals.

o fo
o fo q
o 4

The radioactive drugs are given to patients
for the detection and treatment of disease.
Radioactive materials are also used by
industry and by research laboratories.



Q. Is it true that everybody is exposed
to radiation?

A. Yes, everybody in the world receives a
small amount of radiation exposure at
all times. Radiation is given off con-
stantly by radioactive materials all
around us — in the ground, in the walls
of buildings, even in our own bodies. In
addition, the earth is bombarded by
radiation from the sun and from outer
space, known as cosmic radiation.

The additional radiation doses
cargo handlers receive in a year from
handling radioactive materials pack-
ages are generally less than the doses
received from these natural sources.

FROM BUILDING ,
MATERIALS: Z

FROM INSIDE.
— HE BODY

FROM,
THE GROUND:

Radiation exposure from the environment

4


Q. How serious is leakage of radio-
active liquid or powder from a pack-
age if there is an accident?

A. There is a chance that radioactive
material that leaks from a broken pack-
age can be breathed in or swallowed.
Even if some gets into your body, how-
ever, it is not necessarily dangerous.
Remember that most of the packages
shipped contain radioactive drugs that
are deliberately given to patients by
doctors. Some radioactive materials
are more dangerous than others. How-
ever, the more dangerous radioactive
materials are shipped infrequently and
must be contained in especially strong
packages. It is unlikely that the con-
tents will leak out, even if the packages
are dropped or damaged.



Radioactive Materials Packages

This is a package containing radioactive
materials.

You can recognize these packages by
their labels. An all-white label means
practically no radiation, while a yellow
label means some radiation outside the
package. The RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III
label is for higher radiation levels than the
RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II label.

2



How to handle
Radioactive
materials
packages

A guide for
cargo handlers

Revised
April 1999


Questions and Answers

The rest of this booklet contains answers
to some common questions asked by
cargo handlers. If you would like to read
more detailed information about radio-
active materials packages, ask your
supervisor for a copy of All About
Radioactive Materials Packages - A Guide
for Supervisors at Cargo Terminals,
published by the U.S. Department of
Transportation and the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.


Q. Cana person or food become radio-
active from being near packages of
radioactive material?

A. You cannot become radioactive from
the radiation given off from packages
of radioactive material. The exposure
to radiation stops when you move
away from the packages.

The same thing is true for food. If
lobsters are stacked next to a radio-
active materials package, they will not
become radioactive and it is not
dangerous to eat them.

The only way you could get any
radioactivity on you is if the packaging
broke and the radioactive material
leaked out and you touched it. If you
think this may have happened, contact
your supervisor. The supervisor will
arrange to check you with a radiation
meter and will see that any radioactive
material found is cleaned up properly
(usually with soap and water)