I have a different view on this subject. PCEs are an overall indication of your contamination control program. They may also lead to dose estimates but are a basic indicator of your contamination control program.
I would only require frisking if the beta-to-alpha ratio is worse than 50:1 and then alpha frisking requires some different techniques than beta frisking. According to NRC IE 87-01 you should be looking for 100 dpm/100cm2 when it comes to direct survey for alpha. This would be the de-facto standard similar to the direct beta limit of 5,000 dpm/100cm2. If you find someone with more than that, my opinion would be to call it a PCE. Jeffrey J. Cady, MS, CHP, RRPT Radiation Protection Manager Exelon Generation - Braidwood Generating Station 35100 South Route 53 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Office: 815-417-2700│Cell: 208-360-9480 │Pager: 815-767-6133 Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vickers, Glen:(GenCo-Nuc) Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 9:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Powernet: RE: Alpha Contamination and PCEs PCE’s are for SDE, so alpha really doesn’t fit the EPRI Level 1-3 logic. However, if you have contamination on a person that’s not supposed to be there, that’s an entry for your Corrective Actions Program. If you have beta or alpha on the face, they’ll go to the whole body counter for an internal dosimetry evaluation. Many internal contamination events aren’t PCE’s, but they also wind up in the CAP system… Glen Vickers Exelon Corp RP Technical Lead, CHP 815-216-2723 (work/cell) From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard W Adams (Generation - 3) Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 1:02 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Powernet: Alpha Contamination and PCEs A quick benchmark concerning alpha contamination and considering it to be countable as a PCE. · Does anyone consider alpha contamination to be a PCE when found in any of the locations we would consider it to be one for a beta-gamma emitter? · If not all similar locations, which one(s), like the face or within the area normally considered within the sealing surface of a full-face respirator? · What contamination levels are equivalent to which EPRI Level and the basis for said level? · If it is not a PCE, what drives you to take actions to ensure you review worker practices and/or PCE requirements etc. so you can correct whatever caused the contamination where it was not expected? Thanks. Your quick response is appreciated. Rick Adams, CHP North Anna Power Station 1022 Haley Drive Mineral Virginia 23117 Phone: 540-894-2869 Fax: 540-894-2408 ________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message contains information which may be legally confidential and or privileged and does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid or offer relating thereto which binds the sender without an additional express written confirmation to that effect. The information is intended solely for the individual or entity named above and access by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please reply immediately to the sender that you have received the message in error, and delete it. Thank you. This e-mail and any attachments are confidential, may contain legal, professional or other privileged information, and are intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, do not use the information in this e-mail in any way, delete this e-mail and notify the sender. -EXCIP
