Monitoring for contamination - doe-hdbk-1106-97

DOE-HDBK-1106-97

VI.

MONITORING FOR CONTAMINATION

While handling unsealed radioactive materials, you should monitor your hands frequently

as you work. Monitor your hands, feet, sleeves, and lab coat when leaving the work station

or laboratory. It is common to find contamination on the lab coat where you may be leaning

against your work station.

Contamination Monitoring Equipment

Always use radiation survey meters. Tritium and certain other isotopes, such as C-14,

cannot be detected with a thin-window G-M survey instrument. For these isotopes,

wipe tests, which are counted in a liquid scintillation counter, are required.

E011

IDENTIFY the purpose and use of personnel contamination monitors.

1. Purpose

Contamination-monitoring equipment is used to detect radioactive contamination

of personnel and work areas.

2. Selection of proper survey instrument

Most hand-held survey instruments are calibrated to a Cesium-137 source.

Correction factors for the specific radionuclide being monitored should be known

when surveying. Often the survey instrument will over or under respond when

monitoring for beta or alpha radiation.

3. Pre-operational Checks

Perform pre-operational checks before work:

Confirm calibration is current.

Verify that battery is OK.