Dosimeter Wearing Requirements
Personnel Issued a Dosimeter
Radiation workers (full and part time workers) who operate fluoroscopy units are required to wear one (typically a whole body badge) or more dosimeters . Other radiation workers who operate x-ray machines, administer radiation therapy, or are exposed to other sources of gamma or high energy beta radiation are generally required to wear one or more dosimeters.
The following table provides general guidelines on determining the need for a dosimeter, for those radiation workers who handle radiation sources or dispersible isotopes. If you have not been issued a dosimeter and feel that you should have a dosimeter please call our office (581-6141). Dentist, Dental Hygienists and Dental Technicians are not typically issued dosimeters since the expected doses to those personnel do not warrant issuing them a dosimeter. The same is true of workers operating closed cabinet x-ray units or x-ray diffraction units. However, a worker may request a dosimeter at any time.
Isotope |
Activity used per month |
3H |
no badge issued |
14C |
no badge issued |
32P |
5 mCi |
33P |
45 mCi |
35S |
no badge issued |
86Rb |
5 mCi |
125I |
9 mCi |
Only personnel likely to receive 10% of their yearly dose limit are issued a badge. However if you would like a badge issued please call Radiological Health @ 1-6141
Wearing a whole body dosimeter
Radiation users issued single whole body badges should wear them between their collar and waist with the label facing out.
Users of fluoroscopy units should have two badges, a collar badge and a waist badge. The collar badge will have a black icon and must be worn on the collar outside of the lead apron. The waist badge will have a yellow icon and must be worn under the lead apron at waist level. The purpose of the two badges is to provide additional information for accurately determining the effective dose equivalent received by fluoroscopy users wearing protective lead aprons, and to also assess the absorbed dose to the lens of the eye.
Persons issued radiation dosimeters are required to wear them at all times when working with radiation sources. When not being worn, they must be kept in a location protected from radiation and heat.
Wearing a ring dosimeter
The ring badge should be worn on a finger with the label facing the radiation source, i.e. toward the palm of the hand where the highest exposure is presumed to occur. Protect the ring badge from contamination (any type of contamination including biological, chemical or radioactive) by wearing it inside a glove . Check the badge as part of your routine survey for personal contamination. Ring badges are available in small, medium and large sizes; if a ring doesn't fit, please request a different size!
Persons issued radiation dosimeters are required to wear them at all times when working with radiation sources. When not being worn, they must be kept in a location protected from radiation and heat. Note: A finger ring badge is a supplemental badge and will only be issued in conjunction with whole body dosimeters.
