Shielding Alternatives for the Nuclear Industry

Working with radioactive materials means that you want all of the very best in terms of shielding alternatives made available to you and your staff. There are several alternatives when it comes to radiation shielding, and the applications you choose will be determined by the type of activity occurring in your place of work. In most cases, several different shielding devices are used in tandem to offer maximum protection to those who could potentially be exposed to the harmful materials.

Personal: Personal shielding gear is worn by the person manipulating or working near the radioactive material. All skin as well as the head should be protected in most scenarios that find a person in proximity to nuclear material even when the material is contained. In some cases the personal protection may be kept in an easy access area (rather than worn continuously) in case of an accidental leak or other breach of containment.

Eye wear: Protective glasses worn to shield the eyes are one of the most basic pieces of equipment worn when working with any hazardous material. It is possible to get eye wear that shields the worker from harm in both prescription and non-prescription models. Extensive light transmission without compromising protection is critical when it comes to efficient eye wear, thus wrap around models are the most beneficial.

Gloves: The part of a worker's body most likely to come into contact with hazardous nuclear material is the hands. It is therefore essential that workers in the nuclear industry have sufficient levels of hand protection available at all times. Protective gloves often include lead components, making them quite heavy; it is important that both protection and utility are taken into consideration.

Body covering: The effects of harmful radiation can be negated through the use of body coverings which may include lead. Lightweight non-lead materials are also available. These coverings may take the form of jumpsuits which encase the entire body of an individual, or more commonly as aprons. Standard aprons protect the front of the torso only, while full aprons wrap around to provide protection to both the front and the back.

Area: In addition to personal protective equipment, the nuclear industry takes measures to contain radiation leakage in a specific 'hot - zone, or area. Walls made of lead brick and other types of nuclear shielding will ensure that radiation is contained within a specific area. Windows and doors within the area should include lead lined frames and acrylic coverings to prevent leakage. In addition, lead shot provides an ideal way to fill tricky gaps or holes caused by pipes or water mains.

It is imperative that maximum protection be used both in terms of quantity and quality when working with radiation such as can be found within the nuclear industry. Incorporating several techniques in an overall safety strategy will ensure that business is not harmed through setbacks including worker safety concerns.

About the author:
With lead sheet being the most malleable of common metals, it can be easily shaped, formed, bent or cut to suit all radiation protection applications.