7.2.16

Safety Precautions

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Ionising Radiation - Safety Precautions

Ionising radiation can damage cells, cause mutations that lead to cancer and possibly organ failure. Because of this, we should follow safety precautions to reduce our exposure to radioactive materials.

Storage

Storage

  • Radioactive sources (materials) should be stored in lead-lined boxes and locked in steel cabinets away from people.
Handling

Handling

  • Radioactive sources (materials) should not be handled directly and should only be used for the shortest time possible.
  • We should use rubber gloves when handling and wash our hands thoroughly after use.
Usage

Usage

  • We should not eat or drink when using a radioactive source.
  • Sources should be kept at arm’s length and we should not put them in our pockets.
Reduced exposure

Reduced exposure

  • We should minimise our exposure to sources, use shielding and maximise the distance between the user and the source.
Age of radioactive substance

Age of radioactive substance

  • As a radioactive substance gets older, more half lives pass, so we expect to rate of decay to decrease with time.
  • This means new radioactive substances are more dangerous than old ones so more safety precautions are needed.
Jump to other topics
1

Forces & Motion

1.1

Basics of Motion

1.2

Forces

1.3

Effects of Forces

1.4

Stopping Distance

1.5

Forces & Elasticity

2

Electricity

3

Waves

4

Energy Resources & Energy Transfers

5

Solids, Liquids & Gases

6

Magnetism & Electromagnetism

7

Radioactivity & Particles

8

Astrophysics

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