Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological Control Manual

Chapter 3 - Conduct of Radiological Work

Appendix C - Contamination Control Practices

Selection of Protective Clothing (PC)

1. Workers should inspect protective clothing prior to use for tears, holes or split seams that would diminish protection. Any defective items should be replaced with intact protective clothing.

2. Protective clothing as prescribed by the Radiological Work Permit should be selected based on the contamination level in the work area, the anticipated work activity, worker health considerations, and regard for nonradiological hazards that may be present. Table 3-1 provides general guidelines for selection. As referenced in the table, a full set and double set of protective clothing typically includes:

   Full Set of PCs

   1. Coveralls
   2. Cotton glove liners
   3. Gloves
   4. Shoe covers
   5. Rubber overshoes
   6. Hood

   Double Set of PCs

   1. Two pairs of coveralls
   2. Cotton glove liners
   3. Two pairs of gloves
   4. Two pairs of shoe covers
   5. Rubber overshoes
   6. Hood

3. Cotton glove liners may be worn inside standard gloves for comfort, but should not be worn alone or considered as a layer of protection.

4. Shoecovers and gloves should be sufficiently durable for the intended use. Leather or canvas work gloves should be worn in lieu of or in addition to standard gloves for work activities requiring additional strength or abrasion resistance.

5. Use of hard hats in Contamination Areas should be controlled by the Radiological Work Permit. Hard hats designated for use in such areas should be distinctly colored or marked.

6. Shoe covers and gloves should be secured or taped at the coverall legs and sleeves when necessary to prevent worker contamination. Tape should be tabbed to permit easy removal.

7. Supplemental pocket or electronic dosimeters should be worn outside the protective clothing, in a manner accessible to the worker. Workers should protect such dosimeters from contamination by placing them in an outer coverall pocket or in plastic bags or pouches.

8. Outer personal clothing should not be worn under protective clothing for entry to High Contamination Areas or during work conditions requiring a double set of protective clothing.

Removal of Protective Clothing

Potentially contaminated protective clothing should be removed without spreading contamination and in particular without contaminating the skin. Workers should be instructed not to touch the skin or place anything in the mouth during protective clothing removal. Instructions for protective clothing removal comparable to the sequence presented below should be posted adjacent to the step-off pad in accordance with Article 325.6.

Sequence for Removing a Full Set of Protective Clothing at the Step-Off Pad

Before stepping out of the Contamination Area or Airborne Radioactivity Area to the step-off pad, the worker should:

1. Remove exposed tape
2. Remove rubber overshoes
3. Remove gloves
4. Remove hood from front to rear
5. Remove respiratory protection, as applicable
6. Remove coveralls, inside out, touching inside only
7. Take down barrier closure, as applicable
8. Remove tape or fastener from inner shoe cover
9. Remove each shoe cover, placing shoe onto clean step-off pad
10. Remove cloth glove liners
11. Replace barrier closure, as applicable
12. Commence whole body frisking
13. Monitor badge and dosimeter.

The sequence for the removal of primary and supplemental dosimetry is dependent upon where the dosimetry was worn and the potential for contamination.

Sequence for Removing a Double Set of Protective Clothing using Two Step-Off Pads

Before stepping to the inner step-off pad, the worker should:

• Remove exposed tape
• Remove rubber overshoes
• Remover outer gloves
• Remove hood from front to rear
• Remove respiratory protection, as applicable
• Remove outer coverall, inside out, touching inside only
• Remove tape from inner coverall and sleeves
• Remove each outer shoe cover, stepping on inner step-off pad as each is removed.

  Before stepping to the outer step-off pad, the worker should:

• Remove inner rubber gloves
• Remove inner coveralls, inside out, touching inside only
• Take down barrier closure, as applicable
• Remove tape or fastener from inner shoe cover
• Remove each inner shoe cover, placing shoe on clean outer step-off pad
• Remove cotton glove liners
• Replace barrier closure, as applicable
• Commence whole body frisking
• Monitor badge and dosimeter. The sequence for the removal of primary and supplemental dosimetry is dependent upon where the dosimetry was worn and the potential for contamination.

Use of Multiple Step-Off Pads

1. Multiple step-off pads should be used to control exit from High Surface Contamination Areas. These pads define interim control measures within the posted area to limit the spread of contamination. The following controls apply:

2. The inner step-off pad should be located immediately outside the highly contaminated work area, but still within the posted area

3. The worker should remove highly contaminated outer clothing prior to stepping on the inner step-off pad

4. Additional secondary step-off pads, still within the posted area, may be utilized as necessary to restrict the spread of contamination out of the immediate area

5. The final or outer step-off pad should be located immediately outside the Contamination Area.

       Table 3-1  Guidelines for Selecting Protective Clothing (PC) 
                                     

    WORK                        REMOVABLE CONTAMINATION LEVELS
    ACTIVITY               -------------------------------------------
                             LOW            MODERATE           HIGH
                           (1 to 10        (10 to 100       (> 100 times
                           times Table     times Table      Table 2-2
                           2-2 values)     2-2 values)      values)


    Routine                Full set of     Full set of      Full set of
                           PCs             PCs              PCs, double
                                                            gloves, double
                                                            shoecovers
 
    Heavy work             Full set of     Double set of    Double set of
                           PCs, work       PCs, work        PCs, work
                           gloves          gloves           gloves


    Work with              Full set of     Double set of    Double set of
    pressurized            non-permeable   PCs (outer set   PCs and
    or large               PCs             non-permeable),  non-permeable
    volume                                 rubber boots     outer clothing,
    liquids,                                                rubber boots
    closed
    system
    breach

Note:

For hands-off tours or inspections in areas with removable contamination at levels 1 to 10 times the values in Table 2-2, labcoats, shoecovers and gloves may be used instead of full PCs.