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Precautions
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Precautions

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Precautions

It is really important to limit exposure to and avoid contact with radioactive sources.

Radiation can be dangerous. To protect ourselves from radiation, we want to reduce...

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The dose is the amount of radiation a person receives. What factors affect the dose?

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So an increased dose of radiation increases the risk. What do we mean by risk?

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People who work with radioactive materials need to take precautions in order to reduce the risks or radiation. These are some general precautions.

1

First of all, what should you use to pick up a radioactive material?

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2

Secondly, how should you hold the radioactive substance?

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3

Finally, what is the best place to store a radioactive material?

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These are some more rigorous precautions.

1

Radioactive substances that are used in school are very very weak, so that they are safe

But in industry and hospitals, workers can be exposed to much more dangerous radiation, so they need to take more rigorous safety precautions.

2

Firstly, workers can wear protective gear. Pick all the options you think are examples of protective gear.

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3

A worker who needs to handle large amounts of radioactive substance will need the highest degree of protection. What should they wear?

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4

In high risk work places, like hospitals or industry, workers sometimes also use shields. What do you think those shields are made of?

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5

If you have ever gotten an X-ray, you will see that the doctors hide behind a shield

This is because they might do hundreds of X-rays, so they would be exposed very frequently. Being exposed just a few times is fine though.

6

Why is lead so good at protecting against exposure to radiation?

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1

People who work around radiation should also always bring with them a dosimeter

We also sometimes call it a detector badge or film badge.

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2

Dosimeters were covered on more detail in earlier lessons, but in very short they work like this

The more radiation the film is exposed to, the darker it will get, and depending on the type of radiation, only certain parts of the film will darken at all.

So when the film in the badge is developed it will show both the amount and the type of radiation the person carrying it has been exposed to.

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So what are the two most important things to do when working with radiation?

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Summary

1

You should limit exposure to and avoid contact with radioactive sources

You can do that, using general and more rigorous precautions.

2

General precautions

Pick up substances with tongs or forceps and hold them at arms length. Also, always keep them in a sealed, lead lined container.

3

More rigorous precautions

Use protective gear and/or stay behind a lead shield.