Radiation area personnel monitoring

Personnel monitoring is required when an occupational worker is likely to receive an excess of 10% of the annual dose limit from radiation sources and for individuals entering high or very high radiation areas. Monitoring is accomplished by using film badges or thermoluminiscent dosimeters (TLD). 

The performance of a diagnostic X-ray machine should be checked at least annually with appropriate instruments by a qualified person. If the capability to do this is not available in-house, a qualified consultant should be hired to do the task. If any maintenance is done or if the machine is relocated, a survey should be undertaken for leakage radiation fromthe source. If the unit is moved to another facility, the exposure levels in the adjacent areas should be tested to ensure that the exposure levels are within the permissible limits forcontrolled and uncontrolled areas. Records of all maintenance, surveys, leakage checks, calibration, personnel monitoring, etc. should be maintained at the facility and at the radiation safety office. Because of the long latency period for cancer developing from radiation exposures, it would not be unreasonable to maintain personnel exposure records for up to 40 years. 

Radiation Monitoring systems are provided to warn personnel of unexpected changes in radiological conditions and to monitor the radiation environment within the HCF. Continuous Air Monitoring Systems (CAMS) and Radiation Area Monitoring Systems (RAMS) are used. Both systems have local meter readout, visible alarm, and an audible aiarm. Additionally both systems have remote readout and monitoring capabilities however, this capability is not currently implemented. 

Employees working in the area where EB equipment is operating must be monitored for exposure to ionizing (mainly x-ray) radiation with film badges that detect and quantify any exposure to stray radiation. Employers must train workers thoroughly in the operation of the equipment and proper safety and hygiene, and must keep records of exposure of their personnel to ionizing radiation. 

A. Upon entering a medical treatment facility, patients from a contaminated area should be decontaminated and monitored for radiation. Monitoring by trained health physics personnel may be required to determine when it is proper to discontinue isolation techniques. Such personnel are usually located at the medical group level (see section 3.1). 

A.24. The area of radiation protection should cover aU related activities at the facility, including radiation protection of staff and contractor personnel and of the public [5-7]. The area of radioactive waste management should cover treatment, conditioning, storage and transport of waste, the release of efQuents and the environmental monitoring programme [8],... 

While the license is in effect, the NRC has the right to make inspections of the facility, the byproduct material, and the areas where the byproduct material is in use or stored. These inspections have to be at reasonable hours, but they are almost always unannounced. The inspector also will normally ask to see records of such items as surveys, personnel exposure records, transfers and receipts of radioactive materials, waste disposal records, instrument calibrations, radiation safety committee minutes, documentation of any committee actions, and any other records relevant to compliance with the terms of the license and compliance with other parts of 10 CFR, such as 19 and 20. Failure to be in compliance can result in citations of various levels or of financial penalties. Enforcement will be discussed further later. The NRC can require tests to be done to show that the facility is being operated properly, such as asking for tests of the instruments used in monitoring the radiation levels, or... 

For collocated workers, the average dose field outside the HCF due to isotope processing operations is expected to be less than 0.05 mR/hr. For continuous occupational exposure, the total dose should be less than 100 mrem/year. Work area TLD s are used by the radiation protection organization to monitor dose rates in the general area, and appropriate postings are displayed if the potential exists for dose to personnel greater than 100 mrem/yr. Because these operations have not previously been performed at SNL/NM on a routine basis, there is no historical data with which to compare these predictions for operators or collocated workers. 

Site area emergency Major decrease in level of safety-—one more failure or remaining at this state for extended time could result in core damage (General Emergency) Off-site doses a fraction of the PAGs Fully activate response Evacuate non-essential personnel Implement radiation protection for staff Conduct monitoring off-site Fully activate response Alert the population to the problem... 

The organization includes specialty teams that perform specified activities to assist in assuring personnel safety and provide information pertinent to production operational recovery and post-accident analyses. These teams include Site Survey, Area Monitoring, Personnel Survey, Radiation Dosimetry, and Medical Assistance. 

The area radiation monitoring subsystem provides plant personnel information on radiation at fixed locations in AP1000. Post-accident monitoring functions are also performed by certain area monitors. 

Stationary dose rate meters for monitoring the local radiation dose rate at places routinely occupied by operating personnel and at other places (e.g. beam tube areas) where changes in radiation levels may occur ... 

In addition, areas should be identified within the plant in which radiation exposures are expected to remain low in accidents. These areas may be used in evacuating site personnel and monitoring them for contamination [23]. Recording devices for individual monitoring should also be stored here. 

The action plan to resolve this issue consisted of one deliverable item continue MS-11.1 scope until performance dictates a 50 percent reduction of frequency of deviations from first week of implementation (based on weekly average). One inspector assigned to each shift will audit monitoring equipment and its proper usage at TPs not normally manned by an HP Inspector. An HP technical person will audit compliance of all radiation workers, provide training for HP and other personnel, and provide assistance in planning of work in the radiologically controlled areas. 

Interruption of a personnel alarm on the reactor top or indication by the Area Monitors of excessive radiation levels outside the reactor shield will de-energize Relay K4. Should either of these trips open, control rods will be dropped, causing the reactor power to fall. However, as soon as the cause for the trip is eliminated, the control rod clutches may be re-energized by depressing a reset button on the control console. This may be done in spite of a trip condition in the high-multiplication interlock. ... 

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