Edition 19, July 1999

Radiation Safety Monthly Focus: Survey Meter Calibration and Repair

Careful work practices and proper engineering controls are your first line of defense against exposure to ionizing radiation. The click, click, click of your survey meter is a second line; it warns you that a lapse has resulted in contamination that could spread outside of the work area, or alerts you to situations with potential exposure that you want to avoid. And some of you use your meter for research purposes--to find that hot spot on a column, for instance. You want to keep your survey meter operating at peak performance, and ORS can help you do that.

ORS provides a free calibration service for portable survey meters in University laboratories. For your garden- variety portable instrument with an end-window, pancake or scintillation detector we check operation of the switches and check the batteries and high voltage. We use an electronic pulser to calibrate the various ranges and follow that up by checking detector operation with a source of radiation. We provide a copy of the survey report and schedule another calibration for next year. Check the calibration sticker on your instrument; if it is missing or more than a year old, bring the instrument to ORS for calibration.

Bring us your new meters so we can make sure they work OK after shipping. Don't hesitate to bring your survey meter to us when it breaks. Common problems include broken or shorting cables, punctured tube windows, and corroded battery compartments. We've also seen meter window glass fall out, knobs come off and (surprise!) no batteries. Although we can make some minor repairs, in many cases we will help you get the parts or service you need or direct you to the manufacturer. Before you bring the instrument down, please check to make sure it has fresh batteries. We can guarantee quick turn-around time on routine calibrations.

Our radiation safety staff will be looking at survey meters during the July surveys to make sure they are calibrated and in good operating condition. See NUtrino edition 11 (April 1998) for more information about survey instrument selection and use. Have a scintillating Independence Day!

What would you think if.

.you saw your doctor walk out of the examining room wearing latex gloves? Yuck! Gloves are barrier protection against toxic chemicals, radioactive materials and pathogens encountered in research and clinical settings and should not be worn outside the lab. At the very least, wearing them outside the lab conveys the impression that the wearer is more concerned about his/her personal safety than yours. At the worst, the wearer is spreading hazards to unsuspecting colleagues. No one should hand-carry items that are contaminated on the outside into public spaces anyway; situations where even one glove is required are rare. So, don't touch that doorknob or elevator button or telephone with a gloved hand. Use sealed secondary containers that are clean on the outside to transport materials, and keep a spare pair of gloves in your lab coat pocket.