QM Fundamentals

Question 1

What is the function of a QM?

Answer 1

Support rad work in your area or others
Conduct rad surveys
Assist in casualty responses

Question 2

What are the QM survey limits for radiation?

Answer 2

Less than 100 mR/hr

Question 3

What are the QM survey limits for loose surface contamination?

Answer 3

Less than:
10,000 pCi/100cm2 beta-gamma (ACP and MFP)
1,000 pCi/100cm2 alpha (U)
200 pCi/100cm2 alpha (TRU)

Question 4

What are the QM survey limits for loose surface contamination within a glovebox?

Answer 4

Less than:
25,000 pCi/100cm2 beta-gamma (ACP and MFP)
2,500 pCi/100cm2 alpha (U)
500 pCi/100cm2 alpha (TRU)

Question 5

Can QMs direct radiological surveys?

Answer 5

Nope! (RML has an exception with TM operators)

Question 6

What is the purpose of the Radiological Deficiency Reports (RDR) system?

Answer 6

Identify/document rad deficiencies
Obtain corrective action
Determine root cause
Develop actions to prevent recurrence
Collect data for trend analysis
Prevent small problems from becoming big problems

Question 7

What are some examples of deficiencies that should be documented as RDRs?

Answer 7

Violations of LAB-RC-0288
Violations of local procedures
Poor work practices
Improperly marked rad material
Damage to containment
Holes in bags
Avoidable exposure

Question 8

What is a curie?

Answer 8

Amount of radioactivity equal to 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations per second

Question 9

Define radioactive material (RAM).

Answer 9

Equipment, parts, and materials that potentially have been exposed to beta-gamma or alpha contamination, or a neutron flux

Question 10

Can QMs release RAM to no controls?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

When must audible response be used on meters?

Answer 11

Surveying areas with small intense beams of radiation
Searching for fixed
Trying to find highest contamination area
Alpha measurements
Performing low radiation level evaluations
Using NP-2 on lowest scale
Surveying personnel

Question 12

What is the decision level concentration (DLC)?

Answer 12

Concentration of a radionuclide above which a decision is made that a detectable amount of radioactivity is present with a five percent probability of erroneously reporting detectable radioactivity when none is present

Question 13

For the following conditions, does the DLC increase or decrease?
Decrease in background?
Increase in counting time?
Decrease in sample size?

Answer 13

Decreases
Decreases
Increases

Question 14

What are required characteristics of a radiological survey map?

Answer 14

Facility ID #
Applicable control system
Location
Date/time
Reason for survey
Meters/probes used
Sketch/description
Rad postings of area
Procedure and step number
Remarks
Signature

Question 15

What is the one situation where QM survey limits do not apply?

Answer 15

Casualty response, under cognizance of RCT

Question 16

What are QM casualty response actions prior to RCT arrival?

Answer 16

Cont surveys to verify boundaries
Cont surveys within spill area to quantify spread of contamination
Prep of meters for a CPA/frisking station
Air sampling
Radiation surveys at boundaries