Dosimetry and Radiation Monitoring Requirements

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering operational dosimetry characteristics, neutron dosimeters, DOE external dosimetry thresholds, multiple and extremity dosimetry rules, and PNAD physical components.

OSL Dosimeter Performance Characteristics

A dosimeter system exhibiting a batch coefficient of variation of $0.9\%$, a linear response over $1\text{--}300\,\text{Rad}$ (with small supra-linear behavior above $300\,\text{Rad}$), unchanged sensitivity up to $2000\,\text{Rad}$ (decreasing by $4\%$ per $1000\,\text{Rad}$ thereafter), temperature independence across $10\text{--}40\,^\circ\text{C}$, and an intrinsic buildup of $0.04\,\text{g/cm}^2$.

Albedo Dosimeter

A routine occupational neutron dosimeter designed to measure dose from intermediate to fast neutrons that are reflected (albedo) by the wearer's body.

Nuclear Accident Dosimeter (NAD)

A criticality dosimeter based on TLDs and neutron activation foils/pellets designed to determine gamma dose, neutron fluence, and dose from a criticality event across a range of $10$ to $10{,}000\,\text{rads}$.

Personnel Nuclear Accident Dosimeter (PNAD)

A high-dose criticality dosimeter component included in each permanent badge, utilizing activation foils and TLDs to measure criticality exposure; it lacks the sensitivity required to measure routine occupational neutron doses.

Fixed Nuclear Accident Dosimeter (FNAD)

A criticality dosimeter stationed at strategic locations throughout a facility to determine location-specific doses if a criticality accident occurs.

DOE Radiological Worker Monitoring Thresholds

External dosimetry requirements for radiological workers expected to exceed an annual effective dose equivalent to the whole body of $0.1\,\text{rem}$ ($0.001\,\text{Sv}$), a shallow dose equivalent to the skin or extremities of $5\,\text{rem}$, or a lens of the eye dose equivalent of $1.5\,\text{rem}$.

Declared Pregnant Worker Monitoring Threshold

The occupational external monitoring requirement triggered when a declared pregnant worker is expected to receive an external dose equivalent of $0.05\,\text{rem}$ ($0.0005\,\text{Sv}$ or $50\,\text{mrem}$) or more to the embryo/fetus during the gestation period.

Dosimeter Loss or Contamination Protocol

The mandatory procedure requiring an individual whose dosimeter is lost, damaged, or contaminated to place work in a safe condition, immediately exit the area, report to the Radiological Control Organization, and await review and management approval before re-entry.

Non-Uniform Radiation Field

A radiation field where dose rates vary sufficiently such that the dose to any portion of the whole body exceeds the dose received by the primary dosimeter (worn on the chest) by more than $50\%$.

Multiple Dosimeter Issuance Criteria

The criteria requiring multiple dosimeters when an individual enters a non-uniform radiation field, expects to receive greater than $100\,\text{mrem}$, and the radiation field varies by more than $50\%$ across the whole body area.

Extremity Monitoring Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria requiring extremity monitoring when the beta-gamma dose rate to an extremity is greater than $5$ times the whole-body beta-gamma dose rate, AND the anticipated extremity equivalent dose exceeds $100\,\text{mrem}$ per week or task (whichever is shortest).

Extremity Dose of Record (Partial Monitoring Rule)

The regulatory practice of assigning the shallow dose equivalent from the whole-body dosimeter as the official extremity dose of record for periods when an individual was not monitored with extremity dosimeters.

Neutron Activation

The physical process of making a material radioactive through bombardment with neutrons, protons, or other nuclear radiation.

CR-39 Track Recorder

A large rectangular plastic track recorder featuring two diagonal black stripes across its face, housed within a PNAD directly below the TLD chip to estimate neutron dose.

Harshaw TLD-700

A thermoluminescent dosimeter chip positioned inside one of the small upper rectangular recesses of a PNAD holder, used specifically for gamma-ray dose determination.

PNAD Recess and Foil Configuration

A molded plastic holder containing three rectangular recesses and two circular recesses: the smaller circular recess holds bare yellow sulfur, silver indium, and gold ($3.1\,\text{mm}$ diameter); the larger circular recess contains indium, copper, and gold ($1.27\,\text{cm}$ diameter for sulfur, indium, and copper) encased between dish-shaped cadmium covers.