Following an August 5 incident in Shattuck Hall in which a professor was accidentally exposed to a low dosage of radiation while conducting a physics experiment, he and College officials acted quickly to remedy the situation. No long-term effects are anticipated. Shattuck will reopen when cleanup efforts are complete and an independent contractor has certified that the building is safe for use again. The building will reopen before classes begin.
Radioactive material is a highly regulated substance.
Therefore, even though exposure was very low, the College followed regulated procedures and involved all the appropriate agencies. These included the South Hadley Fire Department, Western Massachusetts Hazardous Materials Team, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's emergency response section of the Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup, the College radiation safety officer, public safety personnel, and other appropriate College personnel. The large number of groups involved, in and of itself, does not mean that the radiation danger was high. Rules require this thorough response after any accident involving nuclear materials, large or small. Peter Berek, dean of faculty and provost, will lead a Mount Holyoke review of the incident.