Beta fields and measurement practices at DOE facilities

The beta measurement problem at DOE facilities was assessed through the use of a questionnaire and field visits to selected facilities. At 35% of the facilities, the radiation exposures from beta emitting radionuclides are high enough that they must be considered in establishing protection requirements. Measurements were made in several facilities using scintillators, a surface barrier detector plus various dosemeters and survey instruments. Beta dose rates of several mGy.h-1 were not unusual and beta gamma ratios of greater than 30:1 were frequently observed. The agreement between the various measurement techniques was frequently unacceptable. (author)