FAQs

1. What dosimeters can be submitted for testing?

   DOELAP presently tests only whole body and extremity personnel dosimeters which are either in-use or planned for immediate use upon accreditation. Environmental, area and criticality dosimeters are not tested under DOELAP. In addition, experimental dosimeters or dosimeters being evaluated for potential use will no longer be accepted unless intended for immediate use. Mock DOELAP testing is available at PNNL and other facilities capable of performing irradiations in the DOELAP categories specified in the appropriate standards.

2. What is the testing schedule?

   Test sessions for personnel dosimetry are conducted beginning each January and July. Current participants have been assigned to groups to optimize the testing efficiency. The currently testing schedule is as follows:

   Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
   July - Even years	January - Odd years	July - Odd years	January - Even years
   FERMI Lab ITRI LANL PPPL TJNAF SNL WIPP	NBL Mound NTS RockyFlats SRS	LBNL LMES/JEG Pantex SLAC West Valley	ANL FEMP INEEL LLNL PNNL

   No testing schedule has yet to be established for radiobioassay.

3. When do I need to apply for testing?

   Typically, applications should be submitted at least six months in advance of your scheduled testing date. No applications will be accepted unless complete and approved by the local DOE field organization. The DOELAP is not responsible for assuring that your facility remains accredited, but only for providing the service in such a manner to assure that you become or remain accredited in a timely fashion.

4. What is the status of the Plutonium x-ray category?

   The use of k-fluorescence sources has been suspended due to problems in the way the standard was originally written and the application of the appropriate Cx factors. The only source available in this category is Am-241.

5. Why are the Cs-137 delivered dose equivalents at deep and shallow depths different?

   As stated in the DOELAP Standard, the deep Cx for Cs-137 is 1.03 rem/R and the geometry of the beam must be adjusted so that the shallow Cx is 1.03±0.05 rem/R. DOELAP has three geometries for the Cs-137 irradiations and the difference in deep and shallow dose equivalents reflect differences in the measured deep and shallow dose equivalents.

6. How are deep dose equivalents calculated for neutron irradiations?

   The source used for DOELAP irradiations is a Cf-252 source used both unshielded and at the center of a deuterium moderated sphere. Each source configuration emits a broad spectrum of gamma rays along with the neutrons. For the bare source, the dose equivalent from photons is approximately 7% of the dose equivalent from neutrons and for the moderated configuration, the photon contribution is approximately 18% of the dose equivalent from neutrons.

   • For non-mixture neturon categories, the deep dose equivalent is the dose equivalent from neturons only.
   • For neutron/photon mixture categories, the deep dose equivalent is the sum of the delivered dose equivalents contributed by the neutron, by the photons from the neutron source and by the photon mixture source used.
   For example, if the dosimeter packet is irradiated to 1 rem Cs-137 and 2 rem moderated Cf-252, the delivered deep dose is 1 + 2 + 0.18*2 = 3.36 rem.

7. When is the site assessment scheduled?

   Assessors are assigned during the performance testing phase. The assessors then schedule the assessment with the site based on mutually agreeable dates. If a participant fails the performance test, the participant will be entered into the next cycle for retesting, but no further assessment typically will be required.

8. What is the maximum time between assessment and accreditation?

   After completion of the site assessment, the site has 45 days to repond in writing to the Performance Evaluation Program Administrator (through the local DOE field organization) regarding any findings noted as deficiencies or concerns. Accreditation cannot be recommended to the Oversight Board until all deficiencies have been corrected. When objective evidence has been received that the deficiencies have been corrected and all other requirements have been met, recommendation for accreditation will be provided to the Oversight Board. Included with that recommendation is a voting form for each member of the board. If a site can be recommended for accreditation prior to the board meetings, then accreditation can usually be granted in the month following the board meeting. Otherwise, the Chairman of the Oversight Board must gather the voting forms from each board member and make his recommendation to the DOELAP Administrator, a process that can take an additional six weeks.

9. What is the maximum time allowed for correction of deficiencies and concerns?

   A general rule of thumb is that deficiencies must be corrected within 60 days of the time of the assessment report. Although it is recognized that some corrective actions may take longer, accreditation can not be achieved until all deficiences are corrected. Concerns must be corrected by the next accreditation cycle.  Concerns not corrected are automatically escalated to deficiencies.

10. Why are certificates sent to field organizations and not to the participant?

    Accreditation is granted by the HQ DOELAP Administrator, Office of Worker Protection Programs and Hazards Management (EH-52). Current policy is that all correspondence to DOE contractors goes through the cognizant DOE field organization. While it is the site that is accredited, the DOE field organizations have requested that all such correspondence be sent to them for forwarding to the participants. Changes to this policy are under discussion.

11. What is the policy on extension of accreditation?

    Accreditation may be extended if the applicant has submitted the accredited dosimeter for testing in a timely fashion for participation in the assigned testing group. If problems are encountered by DOELAP either in performing the performance testing or in scheduling the onsite assessment, extension may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If the applicant fails testing (or retesting) or the participant is not recommended for accreditation, extensions are not typically granted and current accreditations may lapse.

12. How are exceptions processed?

    The applicant may apply to the HQ DOELAP Administrator through the local DOE field organization for an exclusion to DOELAP. If the field organization agrees with the applicant, then the following information must be submitted for evaluation:

    • Copy of NVLAP Certificate from commercial processor for the dosimeter being used
    • Description of work being conducted on-site and associated source terms
    • Number of individuals monitored (current and past 3 years)
    • Minimum, maximum, average and collective doses (current and past 3 years)