Adequacy of Personnel and Equipment - STD-1128-98master0074

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

organization should also be in a position to assure direct access to the company president.

This is to safeguard the program from the pressures of production that exist in the

operational environment, by keeping it independent of operating organizations.

A system of guides, policies, and procedures should be established to clearly identify the

interrelationships, responsibilities, and authorities of those involved with the development,

operation, and maintenance of the facility and the health and safety of the employees. These

guides, policies, and procedures should be documented and should be reviewed at least once

every year.

3.3.3 Adequacy of Personnel and Equipment

A sufficient number of qualified and, where required, certified radiological control

personnel should be available to perform necessary tasks for support of plutonium facility

startup and operation (See Section 3.4 for guidance concerning staffing and staff

qualifications). Sufficient equipment, including protective clothing, respiratory protective

equipment, and radiation detection instrumentation should be available to support RCTs and

operating personnel in the performance of work in controlled areas.

3.3.4 Assignment of ALARA Responsibility and Authority

Limiting radiation exposures to the lowest levels commensurate with the benefit of the work

to be accomplished has long been a part of health physics and radiological protection

programs of DOE and its contractors. 10 CFR 835 (DOE 1993c) establishes the policy of

maintaining ALARA exposures of workers and the public to radiation from DOE operations.

Procedures are required to be prepared (10 CFR 835.104) and implemented and records

must be maintained (10 CFR 835.701) to demonstrate the implementation of ALARA. The

DOE standard, Radiological Control (DOE, 1999a), provides additional guidance. Munson

et al. (1988) and G 441.1-2, Implementation Guide. Occupational ALARA Program (DOE,

1999b), may be used in developing an ALARA program.

An ALARA committee should be established at the plutonium facility. The membership

should include managers and workers from the line, the technical support organization, and

the radiological control organization. A line manager, such as Director of Operations,

Research, or Maintenance should serve as the committee chair. The ALARA committee

should make recommendations to management to improve progress toward minimizing

radiation exposure and radiological releases (DOE, 1999a).

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