| Working with radioactive materials means that | | | | levels of hand protection available at all times. |
| you want all of the very best in terms of shielding | | | | Protective gloves often include lead components, |
| alternatives made available to you and your staff. | | | | making them quite heavy; it is important that |
| There are several alternatives when it comes to | | | | both protection and utility are taken into |
| radiation shielding, and the applications you choose | | | | consideration. Body covering: The effects of |
| will be determined by the type of activity | | | | harmful radiation can be negated through the use |
| occurring in your place of work. In most cases, | | | | of body coverings which may include lead. |
| several different shielding devices are used in | | | | Lightweight non-lead materials are also available. |
| tandem to offer maximum protection to those | | | | These coverings may take the form of jumpsuits |
| who could potentially be exposed to the harmful | | | | which encase the entire body of an individual, or |
| materials. Personal: Personal shielding gear is worn | | | | more commonly as aprons. Standard aprons |
| by the person manipulating or working near the | | | | protect the front of the torso only, while full |
| radioactive material. All skin as well as the head | | | | aprons wrap around to provide protection to both |
| should be protected in most scenarios that find a | | | | the front and the back. Area: In addition to |
| person in proximity to nuclear material even when | | | | personal protective equipment, the nuclear |
| the material is contained. In some cases the | | | | industry takes measures to contain radiation |
| personal protection may be kept in an easy | | | | leakage in a specific "hot" zone, or area. Walls |
| access area (rather than worn continuously) in | | | | made of lead brick and other types of nuclear |
| case of an accidental leak or other breach of | | | | shielding will ensure that radiation is contained |
| containment. Eye wear: Protective glasses worn | | | | within a specific area. Windows and doors within |
| to shield the eyes are one of the most basic | | | | the area should include lead lined frames and |
| pieces of equipment worn when working with any | | | | acrylic coverings to prevent leakage. In addition, |
| hazardous material. It is possible to get eye wear | | | | lead shot provides an ideal way to fill tricky gaps |
| that shields the worker from harm in both | | | | or holes caused by pipes or water mains. It is |
| prescription and non-prescription models. Extensive | | | | imperative that maximum protection be used |
| light transmission without compromising protection | | | | both in terms of quantity and quality when |
| is critical when it comes to efficient eye wear, | | | | working with radiation such as can be found within |
| thus wrap around models are the most beneficial. | | | | the nuclear industry. Incorporating several |
| Gloves: The part of a worker's body most likely | | | | techniques in an overall safety strategy will ensure |
| to come into contact with hazardous nuclear | | | | that business is not harmed through setbacks |
| material is the hands. It is therefore essential that | | | | including worker safety concerns. |
| workers in the nuclear industry have sufficient | | | | |