Mission
The Office of Radiological Health has a Radiological Emergency Response Team equipped with field instrumentation for monitoring radiation and a mobile laboratory for performing sample analysis. These provisions provide for the rapid assessment of a radiological incident so that appropriate recommendations on protective actions, if necessary, may be provided to state and local officials.
Purpose
- Provide mobile radiological laboratory services for a commercial nuclear power plant accident or other radiological/nuclear incident or emergency;
- Participate in radiological/nuclear training, drills and exercises;
- Provide analytical services for ORH’s Environmental Monitoring Program; and
- Provide support as a Mobile Incident Command Vehicle to VDH if needed in the agency’s response to other emergencies.
The Mobile Incident Command/Radiation Laboratory was manufactured at the Pierce Manufacturing facility in Appleton, WI and delivered on February 4, 2008.
Vehicle Specifications
- 2007 Pierce Enforcer
- 50,500 lbs GVW
- Height 12′ 6.75″
- Fuel capacity- 70 gallons- Diesel
- Features- Big foot leveler, Awning on right side for sample receiving, left slide out
- Electrical- 30 kW generator, shore power- two 50 amp/110 volt single phase service
- Four independent AC/heater units
Radiation Laboratory Analytical Equipment
- Gamma Analysis: Two detectors, a High Purity drifted Germanium (HpGe) detector in a one ton shield for low-level environmental analysis and a shielded Sodium Iodide (NaI) detector.
- Alpha/beta counting: Low-level counting system with a sample changer for detection of alpha and beta radiation.
- Liquid Scintillation Counting System (LSC) for low-level beta counting.
Standards
- Mixed gamma in Marinelli beaker
- Radio-iodine in charcoal filter and filter paper
- Americium-241 (alpha emitter) on planchette
- Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 (beta emitters) on planchette
- LSC: H-3, C-14 and two radon in water standards.
Portable Instrumentation
- Alpha Scintillation survey meters and probes
- micro-R meters
- Radionuclide identifiers with neutron detection capability
- GM Survey meters with stick probes and pancake probes
- Survey meters with extendable probes to reach rail cars
- Air samplers with tripods and external battery supply
Communications/Audio/Visual Capabilities
- Two flatscreen TVs
- Radio
- Satellite phone
- Cellular phone service
- Land lines and FAX machine
- Direct TV Service
- DVD player
- Internet
Conference Room
Potassium Iodine (KI) tablets for emergency workers.
Office of Radiological Health | 109 Governor Street, 7th Floor | Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone (804) 864-8150 | Fax: (804) 864-8155
Last Updated: April 24, 2024