Requirements for Routine Operations - STD-1128-98master0117

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

4.3.3.1 Requirements for Routine Operations

As a minimum, personnel who handle or work with unsealed sources of plutonium

should wear coveralls, gloves, and shoe covers. For inspections or visits, lab coats

and shoe covers may be permissible in those same areas. When contaminated wet

areas are to be entered, water-repellent (plastic or rubber) clothing should be worn.

No personal outer clothing should be permitted under coveralls.

When working with unsealed plutonium sources or in glove boxes, hands should be

protected by a minimum of two barriers, for example, at least one pair of surgeon's

gloves and one pair of glove-box gloves. Where manual dexterity is not required

and the work involves a potential for piercing one or both layers of rubber gloves,

leather gloves should be worn over the surgeon's gloves. Automated methods

should be considered for replacing routine manual methods that have a high risk of

piercing the gloves.

Protective clothing should be removed at the exit to radiologically controlled areas

and personnel monitoring for contamination performed. If for some reason this is

not practical, the movement of personnel should be strictly controlled from the exit

area to a location where protective clothing can be removed.

4.3.3.2 Requirements for Special Maintenance

For special maintenance work that involves significant quantities of plutonium, a

double barrier concept should be implemented. An example of minimum

requirements for protective clothing is provided below:

-- Two pairs of coveralls (and sometimes a plastic suit)

-- canvas boots taped to the inner pair of coveralls, with rubber boots over the

canvas boots

-- one pair of surgical gloves taped to the inner coveralls, with a leather, cotton,

or rubber outer pair of gloves

-- respiratory protective device with hood taped to respirator.

To create a double barrier between the source and all extremities, surgeon gloves

should be worn in addition to the glove-box gloves.

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