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Safety

We expect that all Senior Honours project students will:
  • conduct themselves responsibly and with due regard to their own safety and to the safety of others
  • be aware of potential hazards and act to avoid or eliminate them
  • be familiar with the contents of the School Safety Leaflet and Keynote Guide
  • observe safe working procedures

    • If you are in any doubt about the safety of any procedure, ask Mr Peter Black (Nuclear Physics Group technician) or your project supervisor before commencing.

    Report all accidents, however minor, immediately to Mr Peter Black (Nuclear Physics Group technician) or your project supervisor.

    Radioactive sources

    Sealed gamma-ray sources: activity <370kBq

    Students should:
  • contact Mr Peter Black (Nuclear Physics Group technician) or project supervisor to discuss their requirements
  • sign out sources from the radiation safe using the register provided
  • minimise handling of any source
  • ensure that all sources are returned to the radiation safe when not in use (or, at the end of each working day) and signed in using the register provided

    • Sealed gamma-ray sources: activity >370kBq

    Students are NOT permitted to handle, install or adjust such sources. Contact Mr Peter Black (Nuclear Physics Group technician) or project supervisor. The use of appropriate radiation shielding and monitoring equipment is mandatory.

    All other sources

    Students are NOT permitted to handle, install or adjust such sources. Contact Mr Peter Black (Nuclear Physics Group technician) or your project supervisor. The use of appropriate radiation shielding and monitoring equipment is mandatory.

    High Voltage

    Many of the radiation detectors used by the Nuclear Physics Group require the use of high voltage (HV) power supplies, e.g. photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). These voltages are potentially lethal. Students are NOT permitted to connect/disconnect HV cabling or to remove the covers/enclosures of equipment supplying/using HV.

    Lead shielding

    Lead blocks are commonly used to shield and collimate radiation sources. Students should exercise care when handling lead blocks to avoid injuring themselves or others. Students should wash their hands following the handling of lead blocks.

    Last revised: 3.4.15