TM 5-6635-386-12&P SECTION II RADIATION INFORMATION WARNING Always  wear  your  beta-gamma  badge   or   TLD badge    when    operating    the    tester    and    upon entering tester storage areas, and at other times as   directed   by   the   Local   Radiation   Protection Officer (LRPO). NOTE There is no danger to the Army Community and the   general   public   when   the   tester   is   used, transported,   stored,   serviced   and   leak   tested according to Section IV  of  this  manual.    Normal radiation   exposure   from   a   properly   operating tester   is   far   less   than   the   maximum   allowed dosage of 1.25 rem per calendar quarter, on an accumulated calendar year dosage of 5 rem. 2-1.  GOOD RADIATION PRACTICES a. Always  keep  in  mind  how  close  you  are  to  the tester  when  it  is  operating.    Distance  from  the  tester  is your best precaution. (1) At  any  given  distance,  no  matter  how  far or how close to the tester, when that distance is doubled going away from the tester, radiation exposure gets four times weaker. (2) At  any  given  distance,  no  matter  how  far or  how  close  to  the  tester,  when  that  distance  is  cut  in half  going  toward  the  tester,  radiation  gets  four  times stronger. (3) Always stand at least 5 feet away from the tester when it is operating. (4) Complete taking measurements as quickly as possible. (5) You are authorized to carry the tester only by  its  handle  or  in  its  carrying  case.    In  either  instance, the handle must be locked in the SAFE position. b. A  busy  workday  can  result  in  as  many  as  30 measurements.  A busy workweek could result in 5 days of extensive measurements. (1) Even  with  extensive  use,  the  dose  to  be expected  from  a  properly  operating  and  used  tester  is only 1/400 of the maximum allowed dose. (2) Thirty  (30)  measurements  per  day  times 10 seconds  per  measurement  equals  300  seconds  or  5 minutes per day of exposure at 2 feet from the tester. (3) Five  (5)  days  times  5  minutes  equals  25 minutes, rounded off to 30 minutes. (4) One-half  hour  times  1/2  mrem/hr  equals only 1/4 mrem exposure during a busy workweek. (5) Operators  are  allowed  an  average  weekly dosage of 100 mrem. (6) Keep  the  curious  away  when  you  are  on the job, but don’t frighten people by making it a big thing. (7) Always   place   the   handle    in    the    SAFE position when the tester is not in use. (8) Store  the  tester  under  lock  and  key  when not    in    use.        Only    radiation    protection    officers    and operators  shall  have  access  to  tester  and  carrying  case keys. (9) Make   it   a   habit   to   routinely   wear   your betagamma film badge or TLD badge.  Store the badge at an approved location. (10) Do   not   intentionally   expose   the   Cs   137 source to air by extending it out of the tester in the 2, 4, 6 or  8-inch  transmission  positions.    Do  not  withdraw  the source  from  the  measurement  site  before  returning  the handle from the SAFE position. (11) Work   fast   and   keep    proper    distance from the tester. 2-1