Your company can not proceed far with the acquisition or use of radiation sources without obtaining appropriate radiation monitoring equipment. In addition to providing advice about the type of equipment you need, Radiation Services WA can tell you where best to obtain the equipment you need — we are also able to source equipment on your behalf. We can also provide you with advice about the specifics requirements surrounding personal dosimetry or suitability of equipment you’re currently using in your operations.
Types of radiation monitoring equipment
These are the main types of radiation survey meters in use:
Radiation Services WA has collaborations with many suppliers of radiation monitoring equipment and we are able to supply the types listed above.
Individual Monitoring
There are two main types of personal radiation monitoring devices:
- Personal Electronic Dosimeters
- Passive Personal Radiation Monitoring Devices (OSL or TLD)
The advantage of Personal Electronic Dosimeters over passive devices like Thermoluminescent Devices (TLD) or Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) is that they can be used to provide live information on your radiation exposure (often both dose and dose rate), which provides the wearer with situational awareness and the ability to actively manage (and reduce) their radiation exposure in real-time.
Specific Monitoring Requirements
When purchasing a survey meter, you should consider your specific monitoring requirements bay answering the following questions:
Survey meters are typically calibrated for 662keV photons (emitted by Cs-137), but different isotopes have various discrete energy characteristics. If you’re using a radiation source that is not Cs-137, some solutions might include:
- Applying knowledge of your survey meter energy response curve to obtain a relevant correction factor; or
- Consider an energy compensated survey meter or one to which an energy compensation filter can be applied.
Most industrial companies use survey meters that incorporate a Gieger-Muller tube. These are relatively cheap, rugged and reliable, however there are alternatives. For example, you could consider purchasing a survey meter that incorporates an Ion Chambers, which will respond accurately to a spectrum of radiation energies (including x-rays).
Measuring neutron radiation requires alternatives to typical radiation detection methods. Neutron survey meters are available, but are expensive and bulky. An alternative is to obtain a neutron to gamma dose rate conversion factor for both an unshielded source and one that takes into account the device shielding profile.