Assigned Radiation Monitors

1. Assigned Radiation Monitors Anna ShabalinaWAO (Mainz, Germany) October 2014

2. What is an ARM? • ARM – Assigned Radiation Monitor • Perform certain radiological tasks under Radiation Control Group guidance • A qualification Jefferson Lab Operators must have

3. Outline • Overview of the program • Responsibilities • Restrictions • Benefits • Summary

4. Overview of the program • Justification • Relatively small lab: tunnel length 7/8 mile (~1.5 km), 4 experimental halls • No 24/7 Radiation Control Group (RadCon) presence on-site • Rarely do all Radiologically Controlled Areas (RCA) require access at the same time. • Operators serve as ARMs whenever possible • Subset of RadCon responsibilities • 24/7 on call support from RadCon • RadCon takes over during normal work hours and when planned

5. ARM training requirements • 20 hours of classroom training • On-the-job-training • Practical exam • Written exam • Refresher class and test every 2 years

6. ARM responsibilities • Controlled area radiation surveys • Escorted access to the beam enclosure • Responding to radiation alarms • Documentation • Instrument pre-use check • Material pre-release surveys

7. Routine radiation surveys • RadCon estimates possible radiation levels and conducts initial survey of the area • Video of the survey may be provided for future reference • Full survey - survey of the beam enclosure after beam operations before allowing unescorted access • Longer tasks • Lots of people • Work in several parts of the same enclosure • Escorted access - partial survey of accessed area with continuous surveillance • Short access to a specific area for a quick task

8. Full survey: accelerator tunnel

9. Escorted access: accelerator tunnel

10. Escorted access: experimental hall

11. Radiation alarms • OPS-ARMs respond to controlled area radiation monitor (CARM) alarms • Observe • Determine cause • Log • Monitor • Notify RadCon if needed • OPS-ARMs do not change set points or relocate probes

12. Documentation • Crew Chief signs each survey • Surveys are scanned into electronic logbook • Copy of the survey is posted at the entrance to the area • Copy of the experimental hall survey is also left in the appropriate control room • RadCon collects all survey maps for their review and retention

13. Instruments • Variety of survey equipment in the control room • Weekly pre-use check • Physical inspection • Calibration due date • Current response (source check) • Battery

14. Material pre-release surveys • Initial survey of the radioactive material to be removed from the beam enclosure • Must be moved to approved storage area external to accelerator enclosure • Maintain storage area radiological boundary conditions • Cannot be released by ARMs for site-wide use • Does not include • Potentially contaminated items • Items directly irradiated by beam

15. Benefits • Economical benefits • Smaller RadCon department • Less down time • Faster after-hours access • Multiple accesses at the same time • Diagnostics and troubleshooting • Immediate feedback for ops experiencing beam loss • Assistance with radiological tasks outside of regular beam opsand during scheduled down times.

16. Benefits • 259 surveys • ~300 hours • ~$10,000 saved Surveys conducted by ARMs in 2012 *only includes locations where surveys were conducted by ARMs

17. Restrictions • Crew chiefs do not serve as ARMs • OPS-ARMs do not deal with: • Contamination • High Radiation Areas (over 100 mrem/h or 10-3Sv/hr) • Release of activated material from the controlled area

18. Summary • Operators perform certain radiological tasks • Extensive training to qualify as Assigned Radiation Monitor • Less down time • Limited responsibilities: OPS-ARMs do not replace RadCon, but work together • Variety of tasks available during Scheduled Accelerator Down

19. Questions? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?