CHAPTER 6
DECONTAMINATION GROUP
6.1
ORGANIZATION
The Decontamination Group was organized to provide for the protection of personnel
_ against the effects of radiological contamination and to establish effective means of contamination control. In the accomplishment of this mission it became necessary to establish the
following:
1, Personnel decontamination stations at the Parry Island Rad-Safe Center, aboard the
USS Bairoko and USS Curtiss, and aboard a barge alongside the USNS Ainsworth.
2, Equipment decontamination areas at Parry Island.
3. Entry and exit check points at Parry Island, aboard the USS Bairoko and USS Curtiss
and aboard a barge alongside the USNS Ainsworth.
6.2.1
METHODS
Personnel Decontamination
These stations included, in some form, a clean change room, a contaminated change area,
a shower area, and a monitoring point. At the Parry Rad-Safe Center the clean change room,
showers, and monitor check point were all located within the building, whereas a contaminated
change area was located in a squad tent adjacent to the shower area. All persons who were
fcund to be contaminated in excess of the background radiation readings upon return from contaminated areas were required to soap and showeruntil residual contamination had been removed. The Bairoko decontamination station consisted of salt-water showers and contaminatedclothing storage containers on the catwalk adjacent to the flight deck with the change room
Ore
6.2.
located in a cabin just off the catwalk. The Curtiss decontamination station utilized the CPO
shower facilities at the aft end of the ship for a change and shower area. The Rad-Safe barge
alongside the Ainsworth, which handled the greatest volume of personnel, was equipped with a
control tent, clean change tent, clothing issue area, and outside salt-water showers. All persons returning to the Ainsworth were monitored before being permitted to enter the ship. All
contamination was retained aboard the barge.
Equipment Decontamination
The main base for equipment decontamination was established at the Parry Island contaminated storage area. No center for decontamination was established at Bikini because of
the high background levels present on the islands and aboard ship. All equipment with excessive readings was washed with a high-powered spray from a fire truck or Navy tug. After the
shipment of this equipment to Eniwetok, a more thorough decontamination was accomplished
in the equipment decontamination area through the use of vacuum cleaning, detergent and water
scrubbing, steaming, chemical solutions, and removal of surfaces (sanding, chipping, etc.).
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6.2.2