​​Lead Shielding Solutions Best Practice

Radiation shielding for lab workers and the general public may be essential. To ensure that lead is handled and utilized safely, the following information is what you need for the best practice;

1. Lead shield Should Never Be Disposed of In Regular Garbage or Hazardous Waste Bins!

2. All lead bricks should be disposed of using EHS-Radiation Safety procedures.

3. Lead shielding should be covered whenever feasible in order to decrease the risk of exposure. Placing a covering over an object may be accomplished in a variety of ways.

4. Lead dust can be produced by mechanically disturbing lead, such as sanding or filing. Cuts with shears produce little dust. Lead that has been extensively oxidized is different. An inhalation danger is created because the oxide layer is so finely scattered.

5. Lead on your skin will result in lead on your bare hands. If hands aren’t fully cleaned after handling, then ingestion is conceivable.

6. Never use a door stop made of lead brick to prevent lead pollution. At UVA, this practice has been banned!

7. When Working with Lead, Always Use Disposable Gloves

8. When handling lead, it is important to wear an apron or lab coat made of cloth. This procedure will aid in the reduction of garment contamination.

9. Wash your hands after touching lead to prevent lead poisoning.

10.  Never mill, drill, or cut lead. –

11.  Do not keep lead around unless you want to use it. Keep lead pieces in a box marked “Lead Shielding for Re-Use” and keep them in a safe place.

12.  Never dispose of lead in regular garbage; instead, place it in a strong box labeled “Waste Lead” and request a pick-up from EHS. X-rays are generated when high-energy beta particles interact with lead shielding.

13.  High-energy beta particles should be shielded by plexiglass.

14.  Avoid using lead bricks to protect I-125. It’s a bit much! One or more sheets of lead foil are sufficient to protect against the low-energy radiation of I-125.

When using lead bricks to build shield walls or enclosures, the following must be done:

·  The shield must be put up on a strong bench or structure that can handle the weight of the lead.

·  Use the recommended thickness of lead shielding from Nuclear-shields.com for commonly used radioactive substances

Examples Of Lead Shielding

Using flexible lead foil as a barrier against I-125 is a great way to protect tubes, bottles, and containers. Almost any shape can be cut out of this material with relative ease.

For the same amount of lead, vinyl sheets weigh 10% less than rubber sheets. Both sides of the sheets have a non-absorbing, abrasion-resistant surface with a homogeneous density.

A Thick Vinyl Covering Makes Vinyl-Coated Lead Sheets Simpler And Safer To Handle

By weight, Lead Acrylic comprises 30% organolead salts, which are added to the production process. The end result of this process is an optically transparent lead acrylic copolymer with a mild hue. This material’s high clarity allows for unimpeded sight while providing efficient radiation protection.

Protective walls and caverns of any size may be built and relocated using interlocking lead bricks. Straight-edged bricks have a leaking risk, whereas V-shaped bricks don’t have that problem (A). Protective walls may be built using interlocking lead bricks.

Lead/polycarbonate laminate bricks offer 0.5″ of lead shielding and make it simple to create, alter, and move protective barriers of any form.