Use of Containment Devices - hdbk1113cn10142

DOE-HDBK-1113-98

Radiological Safety Traning for Uranium Facilities

Module 104 - Internal Dose Control

Use of Containment Devices

Whenever activities that may generate loose contamination are planned,

consideration should be given to using containment devices to control the

contamination to an area as close to the source as possible. Such devices include

glovebags, gloveboxes, and tents.

Control and Monitoring of Airborne Contamination

Uranium contamination is relatively dense (heavy) so it is not easily stirred up

into the air and quickly settles out when disturbed. Therefore, it is unlikely that

significant airborne contamination will result from normal activities (such as

walking) in areas contaminated with uranium. It is possible for airborne

contamination to result from activity that vigorously disturbs the surface, such as

sweeping, grinding, welding, and direct, high-volume air flow. Failure to control

airborne contamination could result in inhalation of the contamination and

spread of contamination to other areas.

Control of airborne contamination should include:

an evalua tion of a ctiviti es that a re likel y to cause contamin ation to become

airborne,

engineered co ntrols such as installe d or portable ventilation with High

Efficiency Pa rticulate Air filtrat ion systems (HEPA systems) to remove

contamination from the air at a point as close to the source as possible,

physical barriers (e.g., pipes, gloveboxes, etc) and pressure differential zones,

use of alternate work activities or equipment that is less likely to generate

airborne contamination,

air sampling to track airborne contamination levels, and

using respiratory protection to minimize internal dose of the worker.

Monitoring for airborne contamination can take several forms: