Introduction - STD-1128-98master0025

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

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INTRODUCTION

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PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

This Technical Standard (TS) does not contain any new requirements. Its purpose is to

provide guides to good practice, update existing reference material, and discuss practical

lessons learned relevant to the safe handling of plutonium. The technical rationale is given

to allow U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) health physicists to adapt the recommendations

to similar situations throughout the DOE complex. Generally, DOE contractor health

physicists will be responsible to implement radiation protection activities at DOE facilities

and DOE health physicists will be responsible for oversight of those activities. This

guidance is meant to be useful for both efforts. The TS provides information to assist

plutonium facilities in complying with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),

Part 835, Occupational Radiation Protection (DOE, 1998a); hereinafter referred to as

10 CFR 835. The TS also supplements the DOE Implementation Guides (IGs), DOE

Orders, and DOE's standard Radiological Control (DOE, 1999a) and has as its sole purpose

the protection of workers and the public from the radiological hazards that are inherent in

plutonium storage and handling. This Standard does not include every requirement

applicable to every plutonium facility. Individuals responsible for implementing Radiation

Protection Programs at plutonium facilities need to be knowledgeable of which requirements

(contractual or regulatory) are applicable to their facility.

This TS replaces PNL-6534, Health Physics Manual of Good Practices for Plutonium

Facilities (PNL, 1988) by providing more complete and current information and by

emphasizing the situations that are typical of DOE's current plutonium operations; safe

storage, decontamination, and decommissioning (environmental restoration); and weapons

disassembly.

The technical information presented here represents the best technical information available

from within the DOE complex. Except to the extent that the guidance presented here

duplicates mandatory regulations or contract requirements, it is not binding or mandatory.

Any DOE Orders, manuals or guides, referred to in this TS are not binding unless they have

been incorporated into the applicable contract to assist in identifying applicable

requirements "shall" statements are followed by a reference. Should and my statements are

provided for consideration. However, judicious use of this TS, along with the regulatory

documents discussed above, will help assure a comprehensive and technically defensible

radiological protection program.

Regulatory guidance and references are current as of September 1997.

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