ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the reasons for performing radiological surveys and describes the pre-operational checks that must be performed on survey instruments. It provides the process of whole-body frisking and presents counts per minute and decays per minute. The chapter also describes the basic process of personnel decontamination and explains the means of screening for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)-contaminated soil and land. It explores the technique used to determine if items of equipment or tubulars are NORM contaminated. Every manufacturer of field-portable radiation survey instruments makes models which have suitable capabilities for NORM surveying. When screening soil and land suspected of being contaminated with NORM, areas indicating radiation levels greater than twice background should be marked as potential sampling locations. Air sampling is performed to determine the concentration of radioactive material present in the air. Air sampling is accomplished using a calibrated pump system to draw air through a sample filter.
