Monitoring for Contamination - hdbk110697

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.

EO11 IDENTIFY the purpose and use of personnel contamination monitors.

Purpose

Contamination-monitoring equipment is used to detect radioactive contamination of

personnel and work areas.

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.

Pre-operational Checks

Perform pre-operational checks before work:

Confirm calibration is current.

Verify that battery is OK.