Sure Spot

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Sure Spot Dosimeter BadgeGMD Products,
Bacharach, Inc. of Pennsylvania
Innovation - Monitoring personnel exposed to
toxic vapors became more effective when GMD
Products, Bacharach Inc., Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, designed a reliable colorimetric
vapor monitoring dosimeter for NASA, thus
creating the Sure-Spot Dosimeter Badges for
Hydrazine. Through Small Business Innovative
Research (SBIR) contracts with GMD, a
two-chemistry badge was developed to monitor
personnel exposure to hydrazine (Hz) and
monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) at NASAs Kennedy
Space Center (KSC).
Photo
Accomplishments - GMD modified the NASA
technology to create a new commercial product. -
The disposable badge is an inexpensive and
effective tool for monitoring exposure and risk.
- The badge provides immediate visual warning,
measures actual exposure doses. - Badges are
individually sealed, numbered and dated for shelf
life for maximum reliability. It also has
sensitivity for low doses and an extended upper
range for maximum detection. - Badges have been
used by major chemical companies world-wide. -
NASA relies on the badges for monitoring needs in
various locations throughout KSC.
Sure Spot Dosimeter Badges
Government/Science Applications - KSC has a need
for a dosimeter badge for the detection of
hydrazine and monomethyl hydrazine. - Through
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I
and II contracts with GMD Systems (now
Bacharach), a prototype two-chemistry badge was
developed. - KSC assigned a Federal Stock Item
Number to the badges enabling KSC safety and
operational personnel to begin using them. Risk
areas where exposure monitoring is required
include facilities where workers are engaged in
assembly and operational handling of spacecraft,
missiles, and aircraft auxiliary power units in
which fuels are used.
Commercialization - The lightweight,
easy-to-use, sensitive, and reliable disposable
badges can help minimize the risks associated
with the exposure of personnel to toxic gases.
- The badge has two separate paper tape
chemistries in one badge a pair of circular
windows in the badge allow each tape to be
exposed and observed. - When exposed to
hydrazine or MMH, both tapes change colors,
providing an immediate visual alarm. By using a
Dose Estimator the user can match the stain
density to available dose information and
determine the approximate exposure level.
Points of Contact - NASA Rebecca Young-MM
- [phone] - Bacharach Charles Gardner
- [phone] http//www.bacharach-inc.com 199
5 SBIR Phase II NAS10-11411
NASA Kennedy Space Center Date of Update
7/19/1999 Success Story 10-011