Radiation Protection Qualification Standard Reference Guide MARCH 2009 This page intentionally left blank ii Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... iv ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS and SYMBOLS ................................................................. v PURPOSE...................................................................................................................................... 1 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................................... 1 PREFACE...................................................................................................................................... 1 TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES............................................................................................... 3 1. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of the various types of radiation and how they interact with matter................................................... 3 2. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of radioactivity and transformation mechanisms. ....................................................................... 19 3. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of principles and concepts for internal and external dosimetry. ................................................. 25 4. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of the biological effects of radiation. ................................................................................................ 42 5. Radiation Protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of the principles and use of radiological instrumentation and radiological monitoring/survey practices. ................................................................................................................................. 48 6. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of internal and external radiation protection principles and control techniques. ..................................... 68 7. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of ALARA principles, and their application to radiological work activities............................................. 77 8. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of the application of engineered radiological controls and facility design, including containment/confinement systems.......................................................................................... 84 9. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of the radiological hazards associated with the following and a working level knowledge for site specific radiological hazards: ........................................................................................... 91 10. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate an expert level knowledge of the DOE radiation protection system for occupational workers as set forth in the following policy, requirements, and guidance documents:............................................................................... 110 11. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of the following DOE Policy, Order, and Manual Directives, and Technical Standards related to radiation protection:.......................................................................................................... 138 12. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of the identification, reporting, investigation, and enforcement related to potential noncompliance with nuclear safety requirements................................................................. 143 13. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of radioactive waste management: ............................................................................................ 146 14. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of DOE requirements and guidance related to safety management. .................................................. 150 15. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of Federal regulations and DOE Orders related to emergency planning and preparedness as they pertain to radiological incidents.................................................................................... 161 16. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of DOE Orders related to Federal and contractor personnel training and qualification..................... 168 iii 17. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a working level knowledge of national and international radiation protection standards and recommendations............................... 170 18. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of the Federal regulations, guidelines, and DOE Orders pertaining to the decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. ................................................................................. 175 19. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of the standards and DOE Orders pertaining to the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials................................................................................................................................ 188 20. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of the Department’s philosophy and approach to implementing Integrated Safety Management.. 189 21. Radiation protection personnel shall demonstrate a familiarity level knowledge of the Department’s guidance for the structure, function, and operation of a radiation generating device (RGD) control program as discussed in Implementation Guide G 441.1-5, Radiation Generating Devices. ........................................................................... 195 Selected Bibliography and Suggested Reading ...................................................................... 198 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Ionization by an alpha particle.........................................................................................6 Figure 2. Bremsstrahlung radiation.................................................................................................8 Figure 3. Elastic scattering..............................................................................................................9 Figure 4. Inelastic scattering ...........................................................................................................9 Figure 5. Photoelectric effect........................................................................................................11 Figure 6. Compton scattering........................................................................................................11 Figure 7. Pair production and annihilation....................................................................................12 Figure 8. Electron entrapment.......................................................................................................33 Figure 9. Energy dependence of various TLD-Albedo dosimeters ..............................................34 Figure 10. Voltage-response curve ...............................................................................................51 Figure 11. Conductor ....................................................................................................................53 Figure 12. Insulator.......................................................................................................................53 Figure 13. Semiconductor.............................................................................................................53 Figure 14. Electron hole................................................................................................................54 Figure 15. n-p junction..................................................................................................................55 Figure 16. High-resolution gamma ray spectroscopy system.......................................................57 Figure 17. High-volume sampler ..................................................................................................61 Figure 18. Low-volume sampler...................................................................................................62 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Density-thickness values for human body ......................................................................37 Table 2. Biological effects of short term radiation on humans .....................................................45 Table 3. Suggested radiological control performance indicators..................................................81 Table 4. Radioactive decay properties of selected isotopes and decay products, excluding spontaneous fission ......................................................................................................94 Table 5. Half-lives and natural percent abundance for important uranium isotopes in the nuclear fuel cycle .........................................................................................................98