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Geiger Counter

A geiger counter measures radioactivity of things.  By knowing if something is radioactive, we can protect ourselves with the proper clothing, or other barriers.

Many things in our world are radioactive. Even old dishes - Fiesta Ware most notoriously - may set a geiger counter off because there was radioactive material in the glaze. 

Dosimeters

While geiger counters measure how radioactive something is, a dosimeter is a device a human wears to measure how much radioactivity he or she has been exposed to.

People who access the Hanford Site, from public relations staff to engineers, wear personal dosimeters to measure how much radiation they've been exposed to in a year. 

People with a high risk of exposure are monitored daily, weekly or monthly, depending on their job.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been a key player in developing technologies to measure radiation.
One of their early innovations was the thermoluminescent dosimetry technology for personal dosimeters in the 1960s and 1970s.

 The Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter is reliable, accurate, and inexpensive. It allows instantaneous, repeatable readings while traditional dosimeters take 20 or 30 seconds for a one-time-only reading.

Courtesy of PNNL

Glove Box

A glove box has thick rubber gloves and leaded glass windows that allow scientists to work with small nuclear materials.

The glass, lead and rubber provide a barrier that radiation can't go through.  See the diagram on the radiation page to understand which types of radiation can penetrate which materials.

 

Robots

During the processing of nuclear waste robots are sometimes used to move or pack the waste products.  While robots are very expensive, some materials are so dangerous that it isn't safe to let people handle them.

Respirators

People working on Hanford Cleanup must wear respirators in some situations.  Respirators provide clean air so the workers don't get asbestos, beryllium or other dangerous substances into their lungs or sinuses.

Below, instructor Stuart Hubbard demonstrates two types of respirators in use on the Department of Energy's Hanford Site that protect tank farm workers from harmful effects of ammonia vapors and chemical vapors periodically emanating from underground radioactive waste storage tanks.  

 

The hooded Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is a lightweight, respirator available for use on a voluntary basis to tank farm workers. 

The half-mask respirator is a tight-fitting respirator that offers lightweight

protection from nuisance-level vapors.

 

 

Courtesy of  CH2M Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saltblaster

Inside the tanks, materials formed solid crusts on top of liquid waste.  The saltblaster was invented to break down the saltcake - or crust - inside Hanford tanks.

 
Hands on!!

The above tools are really important for keeping people safe and getting Hanford Cleanup done.

Try this: Get some LEGO's®, K'nex® or other building toys and design a tool that would help with cleanup.  What would it do?  How would it help? How much would it cost.  Which parts would wear or break?  How long would it last?
 

       

Are you interested in having a classroom presentation on Hanford?  We've got cool, hands-on projects to help kids understand the challenges and importance of Hanford Cleanup.  Please email Ginger Wireman - Environmental Education and Outreach Specialist, or call 372-7935.