A storage and handling facility for californium-252 medical sources

A shielded facility for storage and handling of up to 300 μg of 252Cf afterloading cells and tubes was designed and constructed. The main shield consists of a centrally located lead pot surrounded by borated water-extended-polyester. A built-in, curved personnel barrier with sliding Lucite eye shield enables safe and rapid handling of sources during calibration, inventory, cleaning operations and movement to and from the source storage rods. The design radiation levels for the mixed neutron-gamma field from 252Cf were 3 mrem/hr at the surface of the shield, less than 2 mrem/hr in the corridor and adjacent radiotherapy patient room, and less than 0.2 mrem/lir in the nursing office below and patient room above. The protection survey of the completed facility and its environs confirmed the calculations and adequacy of the constructed shield.