Internal dosimetry and lifetime dose control. Impacts of the US Department of Energy Radiation Control Manual

This paper outlines Westinghouse Hanford Company (WHC) implementation of lifetime worker dose controls, required in the US Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological Control Manual (RCM) (DOE 1992). In addition, this paper discusses the impacts of tracking doses from intakes of long-term bone seeking radionuclides. Prior to the RCM, an internal WHC policy implemented lifetime dose controls based on total internal and external dose. This lifetime dose control level has affected the careers of approximately 17 workers at the Hanford Site. Additional impacts are anticipated because changes in tracking internal doses increase the significance of tracking plutonium intakes.