Protective Clothing - hdbk10790040

RADIOLOGICAL CONTROL

DOE-HDBK-1079-94

Tritium Primer

strategically placed, fixed tritium monitors. The result is that the exposure and uptake of

airborne tritium are minimized. (Heavy-water reactors, of course, present a more significant

risk of exposure to tritiated water vapor than to tritium gas.) The presence and degree of

contamination may be unknown until measurements are made. Consequently, the importance

of routine and special monitoring surveys for surfaces that personnel might contact cannot be

overestimated.

Protective clothing worn by workers is one of the most important aspects of an effective health

physics program. Because tritium can be absorbed easily through the skin or by inhalation,

personnel protective equipment must protect against both exposure routes. The following

paragraphs describe protective measures and equipment.

Protective Clothing

Lab Coats and Coveralls

Lab coats and coveralls (fabric barriers) are worn in most tritium facilities. Lab coats

are routinely worn to protect personal clothing. Coveralls are sometimes worn for added

protection instead of a lab coat when the work is unusually dusty, dirty, or greasy. The

protection afforded by lab coats and coveralls is minimal (except for short exposures)

when tritium is airborne, but they are more effective in preventing skin contact with

contaminated surfaces.

Disposable water-proof and water-resistant lab coats and coveralls have been tested at

various laboratories. They are not popular for everyday use because of the cost and

excessive discomfort inflicted on the worker. Most facilities prefer using ordinary

open-weave fabrics for lab coats and coveralls and using an approved laundry for

contaminated clothing. Some facilities have chosen to use disposable paper lab coats and

coveralls, exchanging the costs associated with a laundry for the costs associated with

replacement and waste disposal.

Shoe Covers

Although shoe covers provide protection against the spread of contamination and

exposure, the routine use of shoe covers in a tritium facility is usually weighed against

actual need. Shoe covers can offer both a degree of personnel protection and control

over the spread of contamination on floors. However, in modern facilities where tritium

is largely controlled by the use of secondary containment, shoe covers may not be

required. Such facilities can easily maintain a clean laboratory environment by the use

of regular smear surveys and good housekeeping. Using liquid-proof shoe covers until

spills are cleaned up should be considered following spills of tritium-contaminated liquids

and solids to prevent the spread of local contamination.

Tritium

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