October 13, 2008 Email Print Talk BackRegisterBookmarkWhat's This

Hot tip: Radiation detection

Radiation is a hazard that any responder could encounter at any time. Education in how to recognize the hazards and training in the proper operation and limitations of detection equipment and survey techniques are therefore essential.

Penn State University health physicist Mark Linsley, who teaches first responders about radiological hazards, offers these tips:

1. Work with federal and state radiation authorities to identify facilities in your area where radioactive materials are used.
2. Develop contacts with the safety representatives at those facilities to learn what radioactive material is used and at what levels, and what risk is poses.
3. Identify and equip yourself with the instrumentation best suited to meet the level of hazards to which you may need to respond.
4. Contact radiation safety professionals, such as the Health Physics Society for guidance on choosing detection gear.
5. Train. A variety of training resources are available, including the Department of Energy's Modular Emergency Response Radiological Transportation Training Program.

Tip tip is an excerpt from the Homeland Protection Professional article by Doug Page, Relating rad to risk.