Contamination Control - RCT Training

Vocabulary flashcards covering the core principles, engineering controls, administrative requirements, and protective measures in radiological contamination control training.

Basic Goal of Contamination Control

To minimize contaminated areas and maintain contamination levels as low as reasonably achievable once the presence of radioactive material has been located.

Economic Conditions (Decontamination Limitation)

A condition preventing decontamination when the cost of time and labor to decontaminate a location outweighs the hazards of the contamination present.

Radiological Conditions (Decontamination Limitation)

A condition preventing decontamination when radiation dose rates or other radiological conditions present hazards which far exceed the benefits of decontamination.

Operating Conditions (Decontamination Limitation)

A situation where specific areas (such as hot cells) are expected to remain contaminated due to normal day-to-day operations.

"Good Housekeeping"

A prime factor in an effective contamination control program that involves the interaction of all groups within a facility to keep work areas clean and confine radioactive material spread to the smallest possible area.

Fixed Contamination Area Controls

Alternative containment methods such as covering contaminated surfaces with paint, floor tiles, or similar materials when decontamination is not possible.

Basic Principles of Contamination Control

The five fundamental measures utilized to manage contamination: Engineering Controls, Access/Administrative Controls, Personal Protective Measures, Decontamination, and Preventive Methods.

Primary Access Control Point

The entry and exit portal between a clean area and a radiologically controlled area, or Radiological Buffer Area (RBA), designed to prevent the release of contamination to clean locations.

Secondary Access Control Point

Control points established within Radiological Buffer Areas (RBAs) to control movement between Contamination Areas and non-contaminated areas, typically demarcated with yellow and magenta rope, chain, or tape.

Step-Off Pads (SOPs)

Pads used at entry and exit points to contaminated areas that create a sharp line of distinction between the Contamination Area and clean areas.

Radiological Buffer Area (RBA) Boundary Dose Limit

A posted boundary established to limit external radiation exposure to general employees to less than $100\,mrem$ per year.

Radiological Work Permits (RWPs)

Administrative controls that include routine workplace surveys to track potential buildup of contamination and review operational and maintenance procedures for radiological compliance.

Engineering Control

A control measure that protects workers by removing radiological hazards or by placing a physical barrier between the worker and the hazard.

Directional Airflow Ventilation

A ventilation configuration in which air flows in one direction from clean areas to areas of moderate contamination, then to high contamination, and ultimately through an exhaust system under slight negative pressure.

HEPA Filters

High efficiency particulate air filters used in permanent, temporary, or portable ventilation systems to capture and remove radioactive particles from the air.

Containment Tent (Greenhouse or Hut)

A temporary enclosure erected around jobs with very high contamination potential to confine contamination to as small an area as possible.

Bagging

The most widely used containment method, in which contaminated or unmonitored tools and equipment are placed in clean plastic bags or securely wrapped in plastic prior to movement.

Purpose of Protective Clothing

To keep radioactive contamination off the skin and personal clothing of workers, allowing entry and work in contaminated areas without spreading contamination to uncontrolled areas.

Basic Factors Determining Protective Clothing Requirements

The three primary criteria used to specify protective clothing: the type and form of contamination, contamination levels, and the type of work being performed.

Decontamination (Line Management Responsibility)

The principle that line management must direct reasonable efforts toward decontaminating and unconditionally releasing facilities, tools, and equipment rather than discarding them as radioactive waste.

Preventive Methods (Contamination Control)

Proactive practices used to prevent contamination spread, such as leak repair, pre-job briefs, staging areas, taping tools, and covering piping beneath work areas.

Lab Coat

A garment offering whole-body protection from low contamination levels, appropriate only when upper-body contact is very low, such as during hands-off tours, inspections, or fume hood operations.