4.4.1 Surface contamination monitoring

A screening of the probable extent of the contamination is made by performing measurements of the exposure or dose rate from the affected surfaces.

In the case of surveying small areas were accidental spills of radioactive material is suspected or known, surface contamination monitors can be used, which are usually calibrated as to provide the measurement results in either count rate, exposure or dose rate values. The monitors are commonly based on Geiger Müller detectors and are easy to operate. There is always the possibility of defining a threshold level for audible or visual signalization in case of exceedance.