Surface Contamination Control

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

rapid, essentially quantitative clearance of airborne contamination, fixed probes that sample

the exhaust system may be adequate for routine coverage of unplanned activities. If justified

by documented studies, other sampling arrangements may be used that provide improved

"total" coverage of the workplace environment for the early detection of airborne

contamination.

Those responsible for the rapid and reliable detection of airborne plutonium should consider

the following workplace characteristics in evaluating monitoring systems and working

environments (Mishima et al., 1988):

-- The airflow patterns and airborne transport of plutonium in the workplace

-- the location of personnel within the workplace during various processing procedures

-- the location at which the airborne plutonium sample should be intercepted before the

sample is inhaled by workers

-- the ability of the system to transport an undistorted sample to the collection media or

measurement device

-- the collection and retention efficiency of the collection medium

-- the efficiency of the measurement device in measuring the plutonium collected and

differentiating the plutonium from other materials present

-- the accuracy and reliability of the system.

Guidance for each area listed above is provided in Mishima et al. (1988).

4.2

SURFACE CONTAMINATION CONTROL

Controlling plutonium surface contamination is essential because it may easily be resuspended in

air and/or transferred to other surfaces. The following elements are important for controlling

surface contamination: keeping plant surfaces clean; monitoring, reporting, and tracking

contamination levels; and establishing appropriate control zones with limits and action levels for

those zones.

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