NORM Surveyor

Course Objective

• Provide delegates assigned to work with or around NORM the necessary skills to safely perform their jobs.
• Provide delegates with recommended practices and guidelines to perform safely while working with and surveying NORM.
• Delegates should be able to demonstrate the  necessary skills during practical examination and demonstrate knowledge during written examination.

Course Design

• Power Point© / Lecture / Audio Video / Visual Aids
• Practical Exercises

Successful Course Completion

• Requires a minimum score of 75% or better.
• Grades shall be calculated by dividing the  number of questions answered correctly by the total number of exam questions.
• Delegates will have no more than thirty (30) minutes to complete the exam.
• Successful completion of practical session is mandatory.

Course Content Summary

• Classroom
• Practicals

Breaks: 5 to 10 minutes (approximately every hour)

Lunch: 1 Hour

Course Outline
Survey Instruments

• Basic Radiation Detectors
• Detector Types
  • Scintillation Detectors
  • Gas Filled Detectors
• Ludlum (Geiger/Mueller) Meter
• Meter Attachments
  • Probe Attachment
  • Pancake Attachment
• Detection Equipment Used at your Facility
• Calibration Requirements
• Pre-operational Checks
  • Physical
  • Battery
  • Response to a Source
  • Calibration
• Operational Check Example

Units of Measure

• Modifying Units of Measure
  • Milli
  • Micro
  • Nano
  • Pico
• How we Report
• Measurement Terms for NORM Detection
  • Roentgen
  • Micro Roentgen
  • Curie
  • Picocurie
  • Micro Roentgen per hour
  • Counts Per Minute (CPM)

NORM Legal Limits

• Federal NORM Regulations
• State NORM Regulations
  • Louisiana DEQ
• Equipment & Tubular Limits
• NORM Waste Limits
• NORM Land Limits
• NORM Wash & Rinse Water Limits

NORM Surveying

• Radiation Surveys
• Survey Documentation
• Radiation Survey Job Classification
• Radioactive Contamination
  • Loose Contamination
  • Fixed Contamination
• Survey Map Example
• Sampling for NORM
  • Soils & Land
  • Liquid & Sludge
• General Considerations when Performing Radiation Surveys
• Checking a Person for Radioactive Contamination
• Frisking Procedures

Signs & Labels

• NORM Container Markings
• Postings in NORM Areas
  • Restricted Areas
  • Radiation Areas
  • Stored Material Areas
  • Airborne Radiation Areas
  • High Radiation Areas
• Establish Safe Work Boundaries

Personal Protective Equipment

• Discuss Common PPE
  • Gloves
  • Respirators
  • Safety Glasses/Face Shields
  • Coveralls/Disposable Clothing
  • Rubber Boots
  • Hard Hats
• Discuss Techniques:
  • Proper Fit
  • Condition
  • Nature of Work
  • Donning PPE
  • Removing PPE (Potentially Contaminated)

Practical Session:
Practical training shall utilize a Survey Meter similar to the type the employee will utilize in the field and a response source.
Practical shall verify the following:

• Select and wear appropriate PPE during practical training
• Perform proper pre-use physical integrity check of survey meter
• Perform proper pre-use battery check of survey meter
• Perform proper pre-use source response check of survey meter
• Perform proper pre-use calibration check of survey meter
• Correctly measure and report sample readings
• Determine background radiation levels
• Conduct site survey
• Hold probe ½ inch from surface
• Move probe 2-3 inches per minute
• Slowly frisk over potentially contaminated areas
• Recommend decontamination for contaminated area
• Draw a map to reflect the completed survey

Training Center Provided Material

• Course Materials
• Survey Meter

Delegate Requirements

• None

Reference Material / Documents
Department of Transportation (DOT)

• 49 CFR 173 – General Shipping Requirements

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Implementation Manual for Management of NORM in Louisiana
Radiation Protection Division