When transferring materials from a higher zone to a lower zone, what must be done to ensure contamination control?

• A. All materials must be checked for contamination
• B. Only some items require checking
• C. No checks are required
• D. Checks are needed only if an alarm occurs

Answer: (A)

When moving materials from a higher contamination zone to a lower one, every item must be checked for surface contamination. This prevents any hidden contamination on items from being carried into a less restricted area, which could spread contamination and compromise the safety of personnel and facilities in the lower zone.

A typical check involves a wipe test or a surface survey with calibrated equipment to verify that the item’s surface activity meets the release criteria for the destination zone. If an item fails, it must be decontaminated or handled according to procedures before transfer. Relying on visual inspection or waiting for an alarm could miss low-level contamination, leading to cross-contamination.