[ RadSafe ] Pallet monitor

[JGinniver at aol.com]

Joel,
our policy is not to release wood from areas where there is the potential  
for alpha contamination.  Given the potential for alpha to become embedded  in 
the surface it is not realistic to be able to monitor alpha contamination to  a 
level where it would be suitable for free release.  There are other  
materials, steel/plastics that can be used for the construction of items where  would 
is traditionally used e.g. pallets, scaffold boards, framing for temporary  
containments etc. that it is quite feasible to prohibit the use of wood in areas 
 where there exists the potential for alpha contamination.  
 
On the other hand it should be quite easy to construct a device for  
monitoring pallets for beta contamination as long as you are confident that you  don't 
have any low energy beta emitters e.g. Tritium or perhaps Carbon 14.   There 
are several companies that could do so using large area gas proportional  
detectors (either gas flow or sealed Xenon) or large pieces of plastic  
scintillant.  
 
Hope the above helps,
                            Julian