Organization of radiation monitoring at the Magnitogorsk Integrated Steel Works Co

The Magnitogorsk Integrated Steel Works Co., as a safety-conscious major scrap processor, undertakes all sorts of in-process and end-product radiation monitoring. Its inward controls include monitoring of scrap and sample checking for natural radionuclides in raw material entering the plant. At the request of customers, it began radiation monitoring of outgoing products in 1997. The technique employed is gamma spectroscopy and the device a 'Gamma-lC' with a set of metal control sources containing Co-60, Cs-137, Y-88, Co-133 and Ce-139. This equipment is capable of detecting all radionuclides within the energy range 50 keV - 3 MeV and determining their activity. Many of the Company' s contracts are for the supply of metal to other countries. If customers so wish, shipments are checked for radiation cleanliness. We believe it necessary to discuss the question of achieving uniformity as regards measurement and permissible levels of radionuclides in steel products. (author)