Radiological Worker II
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RERS–A BO G A C L ★ ★ Radiological E D D U N C U A F T I G O I N N I N A N D T R A Worker II Developed by Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund Under Grant #5-U45-ESO6174-02 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund Board of Trustees Laborers’ International The Associated General Union of North America Contractors of America Jack Wilkinson Edwin S. Hulihee Carl E. Booker Fred L. Valentine Mike Quevedo, Jr. John F. Otto Tony Dionisio Anthony J. Samango, Jr. Edward M. Smith Brian Scroggs Chuck Barnes Robert D. Siess Arthur A. Coia, Co-Chairman Robert B. Fay, Sr., Co-Chairman James M. Warren, Executive Director LIUNA INNOVATION AT W RK 37 Deerfield Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut 06259 (860) 974-0800 Fax (860) 974-1459 Copyright © 1995 Latest Revision August 1996 by Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund All rights reserved. The reproduction or use of this document in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, and including republication as or in connection with instructional or training seminars, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund. The information in this manual does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Printed in the United States of America TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE SECTION 301 - RADIOLOGICAL FUNDAMENTALS . 1 Learning Objectives . 1 Atomic Structure . 3 Definitions . 8 The Four Basic Types of Ionizing Radiation . 11 Units of Measure . 15 Assignment Sheet . 19 SECTION 302 - BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS . 23 Learning Objectives . 23 Introduction . 25 Sources of Radiation . 25 Effects of Radiation on Cells . 29 Acute and Chronic Radiation Dose . 31 Prenatal Radiation Exposure . 35 Risks in Perspective . 36 Assignment Sheet . 41 SECTION 303 - RADIATION LIMITS . 43 Learning Objectives . 43 Introduction . 45 DOE Dose Limits and Facility Administrative Control Levels . 45 Worker Responsibilities Regarding Dose Limits/ Control Levels . 47 Assignment Sheet . 49 SECTION 304 - ALARA PROGRAM . 51 Learning Objectives . 51 Introduction . 53 ALARA Program . 53 Responsibilities for the ALARA Program . 54 External and Internal Radiation Dose Reduction . 54 Internal Radiation Dose Reduction . 59 Radioactive Waste Minimization . 59 Assignment Sheet . 61 SECTION 305 - PERSONNEL MONITORING PROGRAMS . 63 Learning Objectives . 63 Introduction . 65 External Dosimetry . 65 Internal Monitoring . 68 Radiation Dose Records . 69 Assignment Sheet . 71 SECTION 306 - RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION CONTROLS . 75 Learning Objectives . 75 Introduction . 77 Comparison of Radiation and Radioactive Contamination . 77 Sources of Radioactive Contamination . 78 Contamination Control Methods . 79 Personal Protective Equipment . 81 Contamination Monitoring Equipment . 82 Decontamination . 84 Assignment Sheet . 85 SECTION 307 - RADIOLOGICAL POSTING AND CONTROLS . 91 Learning Objectives . 91 Introduction . 93 Radiological Work Permits . 93 Radiological Postings . 95 Responsibilities of the Worker Associated with Postings, Signs, and Labels . 96 Contamination/Airborne Radioactivity Areas . 103 Assignment Sheet . 109 SECTION 308 - RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES . 111 Learning Objectives . 111 Introduction . 113 Emergency Alarms and Responses . 113 Disregard for Radiological Alarms . 114 Radiological Emergency Situations . 114 Considerations in Rescue and Recovery Operations . 115 Assignment Sheet . 117 GLOSSARY . 119 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS . 127 SECTION 301 RADIOLOGICAL FUNDAMENTALS LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this unit, the participant will be able to IDENTIFY the fundamentals of radiation, radioactive material, and radioactive contamination. The participant will be able to SELECT the correct response from a group of responses which verifies his/her ability to: E01 IDENTIFY the three basic particles of an atom. E02 DEFINE ionization. E03 DEFINE ionizing radiation, radioactive material, and radioactive contamination. E04 DISTINGUISH between ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. E05 DEFINE radioactivity and radioactive half-life. E06 STATE the four basic types of ionizing radiation. E07 IDENTIFY the following for each of the four types of ionizing radiation: a. Physical Characteristics b. Range/Shielding c. Biological Hazard(s) E08 IDENTIFY the units used to measure radiation, contamination, and radioactivity. E09 CONVERT rem to millirem and millirem to rem. © August 1996 by Laborers-AGC 1 2 © August 1996 by Laborers-AGC SECTION 301 RADIOLOGICAL FUNDAMENTALS ATOMIC STRUCTURE The basic unit of matter is the atom. The three basic particles of the atom are protons, neutrons, and electrons. The central portion of the atom is the nucleus. The nucleus consists of protons and neutrons. Electrons orbit the nucleus similar to the way planets orbit our sun. About Atoms Historically, scientists believed that all substances were made of fundamental particles called atoms. Different types of atoms can combine in different patterns to form specific substances. This is the reason atoms are called the basic building blocks of matter. There are 108 different kinds of atoms, which are known as chemical elements. Atoms of the same element or different elements can combine to form molecules or compounds. Examples of chemical elements are: • Hydrogen • Oxygen • Carbon • Chlorine When these chemical elements combine together, they form compounds. Water is a compound made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Gasoline is made up of many carbon and hydrogen atoms. The illustration pictured to the right, shows the chemical structure of water and gasoline. Atoms are held together like magnets by chemical bonds. If a water molecule is magnified, it would look like the molecule pictured to the left. © August 1996 by Laborers-AGC 3 Protons • Located in the nucleus of the atom. • Positive electrical charge. • Number of protons determines the element. Neutrons • Located in the nucleus of the atom. • No electrical charge. • Atoms of the same element have the same number.