This document addresses the technical issues involved in sampling and monitoring air for radioactive materials in the workplace. Specifically, this document addresses the techniques, appropriateness, quality, and accuracy of air sampling/monitoring methods and techniques for such a program. This standard does not address environmental air sampling, effluent monitoring, or radon measurements.
Purpose
This standard sets forth guidelines and performance criteria for sampling airborne radioactive substances in the workplace. Emphasis is on health protection for workers in the indoor environment. This standard provides best practices and performancebased criteria for the use of air sampling devices and systems, including retrospective samplers, continuous air monitors, and personal air samplers. Specifically, this standard covers air sampling program objectives, design of air sampling and monitoring programs to meet program objectives, methods for air sampling and monitoring in the workplace, and quality assurance critera to ensure system performance toward protecting workers against unnecessary inhalation exposures.
The primary purpose of workplace air monitoring is to measure airborne radioactive material for evaluation and mitigation of inhalation hazards by workers in facilities where radioactive material may become airborne. A comprehensive air sampling program can be used to determine whether administrative and engineering controls for confinement of radioactive material are effective, to measure airborne radioactive material and alert workers to high air concentrations, to estimate worker intakes, to determine posting requirements, and to determine what protective equipment and measures (e.g., limiting stay times, engineering controls such as containments and/or ventilation, and respiratory protection) are appropriate. Results often provide the basis for development and evaluation of control procedures and may indicate whether engineering controls or operational changes are necessary.
Air sampling techniques consist of two general approaches. The first approach is retrospective sampling, in which the air is sampled, the collection medium is removed and taken to a radiation detector system and analyzed for radioactive material, and the concentration results are made available at a later time. In this context, the measured air concentrations are evaluated retrospectively. The second approach is real-time air monitoring, where air concentrations are continuously monitored so that workers can be warned that a significant release of airborne radioactive material may have just occurred. In implementing an effective air sampling program, it is important to achieve a proper balance between the two general approaches. The specific balance will depend on hazard level of the work and the characteristics of each facility.
When designing an air sampling strategy, the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle shall be considered, which requires internal and external exposures be kept as low as can reasonably be achieved and balanced with social, technical, economic, practical, and public policy considerations that are associated with the use of the radioactive material.
A comprehensive air sampling strategy should also consider that the air sampling program is only one element of a broader radiation protection program. Therefore, individuals involved with the air sampling program should interact with personnel working in other elements of the radiation protection program such as contamination control and internal dosimetry.
- Edition:
- 12
- Published:
- 01/01/2012
- ANSI:
- ANSI Approved
- Number of Pages:
- 30
- File Size:
- 1 file , 580 KB
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