{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 161","title":"Guide 161: Radioactive Materials (Low Level Radiation)","source_type":"guidance","agency":"U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2024-04-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"ERG2024 response Guide 161: Radioactive Materials (Low Level Radiation).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-161.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-161.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-161","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=161","body":"GUIDE\n161\nRadioactive Materials\n(Low Level Radiation)\nPOTENTIAL HAZARDS\nHEALTH\n•\nRadiation presents minimal risk to transport workers, emergency response personnel and the public\nduring transportation accidents. Packaging durability increases as potential hazard of radioactive content\nincreases.\n•\nVery low levels of contained radioactive materials and low radiation levels outside packages result in low\nrisks to people. Damaged packages may release measurable amounts of radioactive material, but the\nresulting risks are expected to be low.\n•\nSome radioactive materials cannot be detected by commonly available instruments.\n•\nPackages do not have RADIOACTIVE I, II, or III labels. Some may have EMPTY labels or may have the\nword “Radioactive” in the package marking.\n•\n•\n•\n•\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\nSome of these materials may burn, but most do not ignite readily.\nMany have cardboard outer packaging; content (physically large or small) can be of many different\nphysical forms.\nRadioactivity does not change flammability or other properties of materials.\nPUBLIC SAFETY\nCALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper\nnot available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.\nPriorities for rescue, life-saving, first aid, fire control and other hazards are higher than the\npriority for measuring radiation levels.\nRadiation Authority must be notified of accident conditions. Radiation Authority is usually responsible for\ndecisions about radiological consequences and closure of emergencies.\nStay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.\nKeep unauthorized personnel away.\nDetain or isolate uninjured persons or equipment suspected to be contaminated; delay decontamination\nand cleanup until instructions are received from Radiation Authority.\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nPROTECTIVE CLOTHING\n•\nPositive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and structural firefighters’ protective\nclothing will provide adequate protection.\nEVACUATION\nImmediate precautionary measure\n•\n•\n•\nIsolate spill or leak area for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.\nLarge Spill\nConsider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).\nFire\nWhen a large quantity of this material is involved in a major fire, consider an initial evacuation distance of\n300 meters (1000 feet) in all directions.\nPage 252\nERG 2024\n\nRadioactive Materials\n(Low Level Radiation)\nGUIDE\n161\nEMERGENCY RESPONSE\nFIRE\n•\nPresence of radioactive material will not influence the fire control processes and should not influence\nselection of techniques.\n•\nIf it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.\n•\nDo not move damaged packages; move undamaged packages out of fire zone.\nSmall Fire\n•\nDry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam.\nLarge Fire\n•\nWater spray, fog (flooding amounts).\nSPILL OR LEAK\n•\nDo not touch damaged packages or spilled material.\n•\nCover liquid spill with sand, earth or other non-combustible absorbent material.\n•\nCover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading.\nFIRST AID\nRefer to the “General First Aid” section.\nSpecific First Aid:\n•\nMedical problems take priority over radiological concerns.\n•\nUse first aid treatment according to the nature of the injury.\n•\nDo not delay care and transport of a seriously injured person.\n•\nInjured persons contaminated by contact with released material are not a serious hazard to health care\npersonnel, equipment or facilities.\nERG 2024\nPage 253","truncated":false,"body_characters":3509}