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ESH738–GeneralEmployeeRadiologicalTraining(GERT)WelcometoESH738Thisprogramwasdesignedtofulfilltrainingrequirementsidentifiedby10CFR835andtheDOERadiologicalControlManual;andtoinformtheRadiologicalworkersoftheradiologicalconditionsandsafetyproceduresspecifictoArgonneNationalLaboratory.Uponcompletionofthisprogram,youwillbeabletodiscusstheArgonneNationalLaboratoryRadiologicalControlPrograminregardstoradiologicalterminology,hazardsandrisks,controlsandidentificationsystems,andemployeeresponsibilities.Youwillbeableto:

• Identifyfundamentalradiologicaltermsandconcepts.• Identifynaturalandman-madesourcesofbackgroundradiation.• Statethepotentialhealtheffectsofradiationexposure.• Comparerisksduetooccupationalradiationexposurewithothercommonhealthrisks.• IdentifytheALARAconceptandpractices.• Statethemethodsusedtorecognizeandcontrolradiologicalhazards.• Statemanagementandindividualresponsibilitiesforthesiteradiologicalcontrol

program.IntroductionGeneralEmployeeRadiologicalSafetyTraining(GERT)isprovidedtoallnewemployeesandothersiteworkerswhomayroutinelyenterControlledAreasorencounterradiologicalbarriers,postingsorradio-activematerials.Employeeresponsibilitiesforobservingandobeyingradiologicalcontrolpostingsandproceduresareemphasizedthroughoutthistraining.

• Itisimportanttonotethatgeneralemployeeswillprobablynotbeexposedtoradiationorradioactivematerials.

• AdditionaltrainingbeyondGERTisrequiredforemployeeswhoareidentifiedasradiologicalworkers.

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ThreeBasicParticlesoftheAtomAllmatteriscomposedofatoms.Atomsaremadeupofthreebasicparticles:protons,neutronsandelectrons.Protonsandneutronsareinthecenteroftheatomcalledthenucleus.Electronscanbethoughtofascirclingthenucleusastheplanetsorbitthesun.

Protonshaveapositiveelectricalcharge.Neutronshavenoelectricalcharge.Thenumberofneutronsinfluencesatomicstability.Electronshaveanegativeelectricalcharge.AtomsCanEmitRadiationAnatom’sstabilityisdeterminedbytheratioofprotonstoneutronsinthenucleus.Anatomisunstablewhentherearetoomanyortoofewneutronsrelativetothenumbersofprotons.Unstableatomswillgotoamorestableconditionbyget-tingridofexcessenergyfromthenucleusoftheatom.Thisexcessenergyisexpelledbyemittingradiation,suchasenergeticparticlesorwavesthatcar-ryetheenergyaway.Thisprocessisknownasradio-activedecay.Adistinctresultofradioactivedecayisthattheamountofradioactivityoccurringwilldiminishovertimeasmoreandmoreatomsundergothedecayprocess,eventuallybecomingstable.

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RadioactiveMaterialsRadioactivematerialisanymaterialcontainingunstableatomsthatemitradiation.Recallthattheatomsareunstablebecausetheirratioofneutronstoprotonsistoohighortoolow.Radioactivematerialcanbeman-madeornaturallyoccurringandcanbeinanyofthesephysicalforms.

• Solid• Liquid• Gas• Dust• Powder,etc.

RadioactiveContaminationWhenradioactivematerialisuncontainedinanunwantedplace,thisisknownasradioactivecontamination.Fixedcontaminationisradioactivecontaminationthatisfirmlyaffixedto,orimbeddedin,asurfaceandcannotberemovedwithoutdamagingthesurface.Dispersiblecontamination(a.k.a.looseorsmearable)isradioactivecontaminationthatisreadilyre-moved,evenbycasualcontactorambientairflow.Notethatdispersiblecontaminationcanevenbe-comeairborne.Themainconcernswithradioactivecontaminationare:

• Spreadingittodifferentlocationsand• Havingitenterthebody

UsingFiretoExplainRadiationLet’scompareradiation,radioactivematerialandradioactivecontaminationtoafire.Whenlogsburn,theygiveoffheat.Thisisaformofradiation.Weknowthatradioactivematerialemitsenergyinaformofparticlesorwaves.Theburningmaterialissimilartoradioactivematerialastheybothreleaseenergythroughspace.Thesparkscanjumpandspreadthefiretoareaswheretheyarenotdesired.Thiscanbecomparedtoradioactivecontamination.

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DefinitionofREMRoentgenEquivalentMan(rem)

• Isthebasicunitofradiationdoseequivalent• Itisusuallyexpressedinasmallerunitcalledmillirem(mrem)• 1000mrem=1rem• Theremandmremmeasurebiologicaldamageorhealthrisktohumans

FourTypesofIonizingRadiationMostradiologicalworkwillexposeworkerstoatleastoneofthefourbasictypesofionizingradiation.Thesearealphaparticles,betaparticles,photons(gammaraysandx-rays)andneutronparticles.Theradiationoriginatesinthenucleus,withtheexceptionofx-rays,whichareproducedintheelectronorbitals.RadiationGeneratingDevicesIonizingradiationisalsogeneratedbyradiationproducingmachinessuchasthisanalyticalX-raydevice.Otherradiationgeneratingdevicesincludeparticleacceleratorsandelectronmicroscopes.IonizingRadiationandNon-IonizingRadiationIonizingradiationhassufficientenergytoremoveelectronsfromatoms.Non-ionizingradiationdoesnothavetheamountofenergyneededtoremoveelectronsfromtheatom.Examplesofnon-ionizingradiationare:

• Visiblelight• Radiowaves• Microwaves• Magneticfields

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QuestionWhichnumberbelowdoyouthinkistheaverageannualradiationdosetothegeneralpopulation?a) 60mrem/yrb) 360mrem/yrc) 620mrem/yrd) 980mrem/yrAnswer:Theaverageannualradiationdosetothegeneralpopulationis620mrem/yrfromnaturalback-groundandman-madesources.BackgroundRadiationTheaverageannualradiationdosetothegeneralpopulationis620mremfromnaturalbackgroundandman-madesources.Belowaresomeofthesourcesofionizingradiationtowhichweareallexposed:Radon–Comesfromthedecayofradium,whichisnaturallypresentinsoil.Asagas,radoncantravelthroughthesoilandenterbuildings.Radonanditsdecayproductsemitalphaparticleswhichareaninternalhazardtothelung.Cosmic–Comesfromthesun,starsandothersourcesinouterspace.Itconsistsofchargedparticleandgammarays.Thedoserateincreaseswithaltitude,sincethereislessatmospheretoshieldthisradiation.Terrestrial–Naturalsourcesofradiationarepresentinsoil,rocks,andbuildingmaterials.Theseincludepotassium,radium,thorium,anduranium,whichgiveusacontinuouslowlevelradiationexposure.Internal–Foodandwatercontaintraceamountsofnaturalradioactivematerials.MostofourinternaldoseisfromradioactiveformofpotassiumcalledK-40.MedicalX-rays–X-rays,CATscan,anddiagnosticandtherapeuticusesofradioactivesourcescontributethelargestdosefromman-madesources.Commonmedicalsourcesincludegallium-67,technetium-99m,thallium-201,andiodine-123,125,131.ConsumerProducts–Asmallamountofradiationcomesfromconsumerproductssuchasoldvacuumtubetelevisions,radiumdialclocksandwatches,smokedetectorsandsomeceramics.Smokersgetasignificantradiationdosetothelungsfrompoloniumisotopesintobaccoleaf.

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Other–Otherman-maderadiationsourcesincluderesidualfalloutfrom1950’sand60’satmosphericnuclearweaponstests.Industrialusesincludex-raysforbaggageinspectionsandtransportationofradioactivematerials.BackgroundRadiationExposuresintheUS

PotentialHealthRisksOurknowledgeofradiationhealtheffectsismainlyfromcaseswherehighdosesofradiationwerereceivedovershortperiodsoftime.However,workersatradiologicalfacilitieswhoreceiveanyradiationtendtoreceivesmalldosesoverlongtimeperiods.Thesearecalledchronicradiationdoses.Personswhoreceivechronicradiationdosesmayincreasetheirriskofcancer.Theprobabilityofcancerduetooccupationalexposureaddsverylittle(lessthan1%)totheaveragenaturalcancerdeathratethatpeoplearesusceptibleto(around20%).

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HealthRisksRadiationinducedgeneticdisordersthatarepassedontofuturegenerationsarecalledheritableeffects.Thesehavebeenmeasuredinplantsandanimals,buthavenotbeenobservedinhumans.Weassumethatheritableeffectscanoccurinhumans,buttheprobabilityislowcomparedtothenormalrateofgeneticdisorders.Prenatalradiationhealtheffectshavebeenobservedinhumansandanimalsexposedtohighradiationdoseswhileinthewomb.Theseinclude:

• Lowerbirthweight• Increasedrateofmentalretardation• Stuntedphysicalgrowth• ReducedIQ

Theeffectshaveonlybeenseenwhenfetaldoseexceeded15rem. Anotherconcernisthatprenatalradiationexposuremayincreasetheriskofafuturecancersuchasleukemia.HealthRisksDOEandArgonnewanttominimizeradiationexposuretothefetus/embryo.Apregnantworkeroranindividualwhoisplanningtobecomepregnantandwhoismonitoredforoccupationalradiationexposuremayvoluntarilydeclaretheirpregnancyinwriting.Oncethepregnancyis“declared”,amorerestrictiveradiationdoselimitisapplied.Argonnepolicyistokeepthefetalradiationdoseasfarbelowthe500mremlimitasreasonablyachievable.

• TheindividualdeclaringpregnancyisrequiredtofilloutaDeclarationofPregnancy(ANL-943)form.

• Once“declared”contacttheAreaHealthPhysicistforaconsultationandworkrestrictiondetermination(ANL-243).Workdutyoptionsareofferedtoreducetheriskofradiationexposure.ArgonneemployeesshouldalsoconsultwiththeMedicalDepartmentinBuilding201.

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DoseLimitsTheradiationdoselimitforworkersatDOEfacilitiesis5000mrem/year.TheArgonneadministrativedoselimitis1000mrem(exceptsomeworkersinAGHCFwhichis1500mrem).Whileforsitevisitorsandthegeneralpublicthelimitis100mrem/year.Workerswhoexpecttoreceiveabove100mrem/yeararerequiredtocompleteRadiologicalWorkerTraining.Generally,personslikeyourselfareexpectedtoreceivelessthan100mrem/yearduetooccupationalradiationexposure.ThisGeneralEmployeeRadiologicalTraining(GERT)issufficientforyourcurrentneeds.RiskComparisonThehealthrisksassociatedwithoccupationradiationexposuresareverysmallandshouldbeconsideredacceptablewhencomparedtootherriskswetakedaily.Thechartbelowillustrateshowyourexpectedradiationdosecompareswiththatforotheroccupations.

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PerspectivesonRiskAnotherwaytoviewriskistomeasurethereductioninlifespanassociatedwithvariouslifestyles.

A.L.A.R.A.

TheALARAconceptisanintegralpartofallactivitiesthatuseradioactivematerialsorradiationproducingmachines.Itworkstominimizeradiationexposurestoworkers,thepublic,andtheenvironmentfromsiteactivities.YouareresponsibleformaintainingyourradiationdoseALARA.Thesite-wideALARACoordinator,providestechnicalsupportandassistanceintheimplementationofALARA.

TheALARACoordinatorservesasthesecretaryofthesiteALARAcommitteeandissuesquarterlyreportswhichtrackandtrendworkerradiationdoses.DivisionALARACoordinatorsassistinALARAreviewsandserveontheALARACommittee.

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RadiologicalControlsSinceradiationcannotbedetectedwithanyofthesense,specialdetectiondevicesmustbeused.TheHealthPhysicstechniciansroutinelymeasureradiationandcontaminationlevelsinsuspectareasofthesite.Ifradiologicalconditionswerefound,theywillbeclearlyidentifiedwithradiologicalcontrolssuchaspostings,labels,ortags.

Indicatorsthattherecouldberadiologicalhazardpresent:

• Yellowandmagentapostings• Radiologicalworkerswithpersonalprotective

clothing• Flashinglights• Yellowandmagentarope• Audiblealarms

RadiologicalPostings

ThreeGeneralWarning:I. GraveDangerII. DangerIII. CautionPostingshavemagentaorblacktrefoil(propeller)symbol.Radiologicaldesignationindicatesthetypeanddegreeofhazard.Alwayscomplywithentryrequirements.

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EntryRequirements• Thepostingtotherightindicatesaminimumradiological

hazard.Thespaceusedforspecificradiologicaldesignationsisblank.

• Thedoserateinsideacontrolledareawhichhasnoradiologicaldesignationpostedislessthan5mR/hourat30cm(1ft)fromsource.

• Ifyouseeasignlikethis,youmusthavethefollowingtoenter:

• GERTqualification• Authorizationbyareamanager• Ifthereisanyradiologicaldesignation,youmusthavea

qualifiedescortandcomplywithallentryrequirements.RadiationDosimeter

• Anyworkerthatmayreceiveadosegreaterthan100mrem/yearisissuedaradiationdosimeter

• Eachyear,2500Argonneworkersweardosimeter.However,fewerthan250receiveameasurabledose.

WorkAreaHazardsYourworkareamayhaveuniquehazards,controls,warning,andEmergencyResponseProcedures.Yoursupervisorwillarrangeforareaspecifictraining,typicallyincludedinyourbuildingorientation.ResponsibilitiesManagementResponsibilities:

• EstablishradiationexposurecontrollevelsandALARAgoals• Solicitfeedbackfromtheworkforceonimprovementstotheradiologicalcontrol

program• ImplementpoliciesandprocedurestomaintainradiationexposuresALARA• Holdworkersaccountableforradiologicalperformance

YourResponsibilities:

• Obeyallsignsandpostingsandcomplywithallradiologicalsafetyrulesandprocedures• Donotenteranycontrolledareawithoutauthorizationbytheareamanager• Ifvisitingaradiologicalareawithadesignatedescortobeyhis/herinstructions

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• Obtainandwearrequireddosimeter(s)• UseALARAtechniquestominimizeexposure• KnowhowtocontactHealthPhysicsinyourareaandbealertforandrespondto

unusualradiologicalsituationsUsingHandandShoeMonitorInsomelocations,youwillberequiredtocheckforradioactivecontaminationbyusingahandandshoemonitor.Followthedirectionsonthemonitor.Ifyougetapositivereading:

• Stayinthearea• CallHealthPhysics• Waitforhelptoarrive

NuclearMedicineNuclearmedicineproceduresareaverycommonmedicaltool.Yourdoctormayrecommendatestthatrequiresyoutodrinkorbeinjectedwitharadioactivesubstance.Yourbodywillemitradiationduringandafewdaysfollowingtheprocedure.Ifyouworkinabuildingthathaspostedradiologicalareas,andyoureceivedorplantoreceivenuclearmedicine,youareresponsiblefornotifyingtheareaHealthPhysicsgroup.ItisnotnecessarytonotifyHPifyougetanX-ray,CATscan,orMRI.ThisConcludesESH738GeneralEmployeeRadiologicalSafetyYouwillnowbedirectedtothelearningmeasurementexercise.PleaseclickHeretoproceed.