In: Nursing
A shipment of a radiopharmaceutical is received by your facility and the survey measurement you take at one meter is 108 mR / hr. How should you label and handle this shipment?
TRANSPORTATION INDEX
The radiation level in mR/hr at three feet ( one meter ) from the external surface of the package is known as transportation index and is written in the space provided in the warning label.
LABELS | DOSE RATE LIMIT at one meter from external surface of package -transportation index |
"RADIOACTIVE-WHITE 1"(background of label is all white) | N/A |
"RADIOACTIVE-YELLOW 2" (Background of upper half is yellow) |
1.0 mR/hr |
"RADIOACTIVE -YELLOW 3" (Background of upper half of label is yellow) |
10mR/hr |
Here the transportation index is 108mR/hr. So comes under "RADIOACTIVE -YELLOW 3".The rail or highway vehicle in which it is carried must be placarded.
The purpose of these labels is to alert individuals handling packages.
For "RADIOACTIVE WHITE 1" radiation level from package is minimal.so no special handling is neccessary.
For "RADIOACTIVE YELLOW 2 &3 ",radiation levels exists outside the package and precautions should be taken to minimize the exposure.