Monitoring/decontamination of vehicles and equipment

Instruction

User:
Typically member of the fire brigade.
When to apply:
If first responder monitor/radiological assessor and necessary equipment are available and there is an indication that vehicles/equipment/items may be contaminated by the possible presence of radioactive smoke, liquid or dust.

Note: Equipment or items which were inside of the inner cordoned area or any vehicle used for the transport of potentially contaminated victims cannot be released for general use until monitored by a radiological assessor/team. This includes private vehicles and taxis.

Caution: Some instruments can be saturated (be overwhelmed) by very high radiation levels and show a low or "0" reading in very dangerous areas. Approach the scene with an instrument that can read at least 100 mSv/h switched on and do not enter areas with ambient dose rates > 100 mSv/h.

Steps:

  1. Establish an equipment monitoring and decontamination area in an area on the boundary of the inner condoned area with a background ambient dose rate below 0.3 µSv/h and with needed decontamination supplies (e.g. fire hoses, scrub brushes and detergents). Water used for decontamination should be collected if it can be done without delaying any emergency operations.
  2. Perform an operational check of the monitoring instrument(s) in an area away from the scene:
    • Check battery
    • Confirm that the instrument can measure ambient dose rates in the range of local background (typically between 0.05–0.2 µSv/h)
    • Make sure you understand units displayed and how ranges are changed
    • Open beta window if available
    • Wrap instrument in plastic bag
    • Record the background level and instrument number
    • Keep one check instrument in a "clean area" and do not use it for routine monitoring
  3. To ensure that any objects with an ambient dose rate >100 µSv/h at 1 metre are identified and isolated before members of the public are entering monitoring area, have the public screened away from the monitoring area (walk within 2 metres of an instrument measuring in a range of 100 µSv/h or more). Isolate identified objects with an ambient dose rate >100 µSv/h
  4. When monitoring:
    • Wear gloves and protective clothing as available, change gloves regularly
    • Follow personnel protection guidelines
    • Periodically get monitored and if contaminated >0.3 µSv/h, get decontaminated
    • Periodically confirm the instrument is operational and not contaminated (it can measure background). If contaminated, replace the plastic bag and re-check
  5. Monitor the item for gamma contamination holding the monitor about 10 cm from the surface
  6. Perform the following actions if contamination levels are >1 µSv/h:
    • Decontaminate using fire hoses, scrub brushes and detergents
    • Do not delay/interfere with the response to remove/replace contaminated filters
    • Re-survey the contaminated areas and perform the following:
      If ambient dose rate at 10 cm is: Perform the action:
      >1 µSv/h and <10 µSv/h Use for response activities only.
      >10 µSv/h and <100 µSv/h Use for critical response activities only (e.g. needed for transport of injured).The use of these items must be controlled. Once their use is no longer critical they should be isolated. The people who use this equipment must follow personnel protection guidelines and take all reasonable action to reduce their skin exposure (wear gloves) and limit use to less than a few hours.
      >100 µSv/h Isolate and use only with radiological assessor approval.
  7. Only release potentially contaminated vehicles and equipment for general use when assessed by a radiological assessor and found to meet national criteria