Equipment to detect radioactive contaminated metallurgical scrap

Numerous cases for the detection of radioactive sources in metallurgical scrap evidently suggest a necessity to develop specialized devices for the radiation control. However, a wide experience has been already accumulated in the development of both the legislation and equipment to control unauthorised transportation of radioactive materials across state borders. One example of successful international cooperation in this field is the testing of such equipment that is now carried out in Seibersdorf, Austria in the ITRAP programme framework. During the development of common principles and devices for detection of radioactive sources (shielded ones included) in metallurgical scrap, it is necessary to ensure the radiation protection of personnel performing this control. At present the Polimaster company has a significant experience in solving similar tasks. It develops and produces equipment that ensures: warning when a radioactive source is found in the controlled area, the portal radiation monitors with gamma and neutron detectors are used for these purposes; localizing the sources with hand held monitors; identifying the type of the source using devices with multi channel analysers; protecting the personnel from radiation with personal dosimeters of various types. Most of the devices have a non volatile memory where the radiation situation history is stored in a computer. Because of correlated parameters, these devices may be readily adapted to legislative basis of different states. (author)