What level hazmat suit should be worn while tending to Uranium-238

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If you were to be handling Uranium-238 at arms reach what would you where? I know it is only alpha radiation, but would you need something other than a hazmat suit, like more protective or do you only need a lab coat and goggles.
 
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sean888 said:
If you were to be handling Uranium-238 at arms reach what would you where? I know it is only alpha radiation, but would you need something other than a hazmat suit, like more protective or do you only need a lab coat and goggles.
I have handled enriched uranium compounds, and I only needed thin gloves and a lab coat.

If one is doing something where dust might be produced, then one can were a dust mask or work with the sample under a hood.
 
When would you use let's say.. a level B hazmat suit? Is there any protection against radiation or is it just to prevent chemical burns and other associated injuries?
 
sean888 said:
When would you use let's say.. a level B hazmat suit? Is there any protection against radiation or is it just to prevent chemical burns and other associated injuries?
If one was using a compound that is gaseous, but the one would probably use a hood. The alphas from U-238 are absorbed by the gloves and the gamma activity is low. U-238 is pretty dense, so it provides a lot of self shielding.

Chemically, it should be treated like lead or other heavy metal. One simply avoids contact, but if it contacts the skin, wash it off.