What is contaninany Survey

A survey is an evaluation of work areas, instruments and apparatus, floors, sinks, faucet handles, drawer fronts, doorknobs, telephones, light switches, refrigerators and other surfaces for the presence of radioactive contamination.

The following methods can be used to perform a survey:

1. Survey meter scan
2. Wipe test

What is contamination?

There are two types of contamination, “removable” and “fixed.”

Removable contamination can be wiped off a surface or object, like dust on a piece of furniture. Removable contamination can be discovered by wipe tests and, in some situations, by use of a survey meter. If contamination is present in large enough quantities and is removable, it may also be detected with a survey meter when a wipe from the surface is placed near the probe.

Fixed contamination has become bound by chemical or other means to the surface upon which it was deposited. This form of contamination can only be detected by a survey meter. Because it is fixed to the surface, a wipe test will indicate no activity. A meter survey may indicate whether large quantities are present on the surface.