Radiation Safety

Personnel Monitoring

Ohio Department of Health and Federal regulations require the University of Toledo to monitor the radiation dose to employees who may be exposed as part of their job duties.

Employees whose job duties result in exposure to radiation may be assigned dosimeters by the Radiation Safety Office to monitor their exposure.  Depending on the source and amount of exposure this may include whole body badges or whole body badges and rings. Each individual is required to return all dosimeters in a timely manner and report lost dosimeters promptly. Departments of individuals who fail to return badges will be assessed a fee.  Repeated unreturned badges by an individual may result in disciplinary action.  

What you need to know

The Federal government has defined annual dose limits as follows:

Workers likely to receive 10% of the allowable annual dose limit are required to wear dosimeters.  Dosimeter badges are collected monthly, and reported personnel exposures are reviewed monthly, quarterly, and annually by the Radiation Safety Officer to determine if an ALARA investigation level has been reached.  ALARA is an acronym for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable",  which means making every reasonable effort to maintain exposures to ionizing radiation as far below the dose limits as practical.  ALARA investigation levels are as follows:

Level I Exposure:

A Level I Exposure occurs when a worker exceeds 10% of the Quarterly or Annual Dose Limits and, depending on the individual's  dose history and job duties, may trigger an investigation by the Radiation Safety Officer.

Level II Exposure:

A Level II Exposure occurs when a worker exceeds 30% of the allowable Quarterly or Annual Limit.  A Level II Exposure will trigger an exposure investigation by the Radiation Safety Officer to determine any contributing factors and a required re-training to  limit the individual's exposure to As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

Exposure Reports:

All Level I  and Level II Exposures are reported to the Radiation Safety Committee or the X-ray QA Committee Quarterly and Annually.

where to wear your dosimeter

Whole body dosimeters should be worn on the front of the torso between the neck and the waist. Individuals who wear lead garments should position the whole body dosimeter at the collar level, outside of any lead protection.  Ring dosimeters should be worn under any gloves and on the hand most likely to be exposed, i.e. the hand closest to the radiation.

general information

•  A dosimeter does not provide protection, it measures your radiation exposure. The dosimeter will detect high energy beta, gamma, or x-ray radiation.  The Radiation Safety Officer reviews  the dosimeter exposure reports and that information can be used to protect you and keep your dose to as low as reasonably achievable.  You must turn in your dosimeters to be protected effectively.
• When not wearing your dosimeter, it should be stored in your department on the badge boards provided.  Your dosimeter should not leave the facility, taking dosimeters home is the number one reason for lost dosimeters.  If you work with ionizing radiation at another facility they should provide you with a dosimeter,  your University of Toledo/UTMC dosimeter should not be worn at any other facility.
• Dosimeters are issued to an individual.  Do not lend your dosimeter to another person, and do not wear another person's dosimeter.
• Do not leave your dosimeter on your lead garment when not in use, as someone else may wear that garment and not notice that your dosimeter is on it, which can lead to an inaccurate measurement of YOUR exposure.
• Do not wear your dosimeter for any personal medical procedures involving diagnostic x-rays or nuclear medicine isotopes.

declaring your pregnancy

If you are a radiation worker, are pregnant, and declare your pregnancy,  State and Federal regulations allow you to limit your fetal exposure to 500 mrem during the term of the pregnancy.   You are not required to declare your pregnancy, but if you chose to do so, you must declare your pregnancy in writing to the Radiation Safety Office by using the Request for Fetal Badge Monitoring form.  Please review the Occupational Radiation Exposure During Pregnancy information sheet before declaring your pregnancy.

fetal Dosimeters

Radiation workers who declare their pregnancy receive a "fetal dosimeter" in addition to their regular whole body dosimeter.  The fetal dosimeter should be worn at waist level near the fetus.  If a lead garment is worn, the fetal dosimeter is to be worn under the apron near the fetus, and the whole body dosimeter is to be worn outside of the lead garment at the collar level.  Please be sure that the each dosimeter is worn at the correct location and are not switched.