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THE
ORCBS > Radiation
Safety
> Radiation
Safety Manual
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 Personnel
Monitoring
Radiation detection
dosimeters (badges) must be worn routinely by personnel when exposure
to penetrating radiation is possible. At Michigan State University,
this means that workers handling radiation that is energetic enough
to penetrate and cause exposures need to wear a dosimeter. Dosimeters
are exchanged quarterly, and in some locations, monthly. Each individual
is responsible for seeing that his/her badge has the current dosimeter
within the holder.
These badges
provide legal documentation of external radiation exposure received
while working with radioactive materials at a given facility. They
are not to leave your immediate work area; they are not to be taken
home or to any other location, since non-occupational exposures
may occur (e.g., a dentist's office or another laboratory). Badges
are heat and light sensitive, and if left in a car where the temperature
may be high, a false exposure will be recorded. It will then become
difficult to distinguish a true radiation dose from a dose caused
by exposure to excessive heat or light.
Radiation detection
dosimeters are not assigned for work with certain radionuclides,
since the energies are beneath the detection limit of the badge.
This is not a risk to the worker, however, because these kinds of
radiation are not penetrating enough to cause a deep radiation dose.
Examples of these radionuclides are 3H, 14C,
35S, 45Ca, 33P and 63Ni.
For those individuals
who use x-ray equipment and/or high energy beta or gamma emitters,
extremity (ring) badges should be used in conjunction with the whole
body dosimeter. It is a legal requirement that workers handling
greater than or equal to 1 mCi of 32P must wear extremity
badges. The whole body badge should be worn on the torso with
the name tag facing the suspected source of radiation. With finger
ring badges, the name tag must face the radiation source.
Care should
be taken to make sure that badges do not become contaminated with
radioactive materials. Lost or misplaced badges should be reported
immediately to the ORCBS in order to receive a replacement. Under
no circumstances should workers wear a dosimeter belonging to another
individual. It is a legal requirement that doses be tracked for
the worker to whom the dosimeter is assigned.
When terminating
employment with the university, badges must be returned to the ORCBS.
If badges are not returned and proper notification of termination
of employment/study has not occurred, it is a non compliance with
regulatory requirements. A termination report will be supplied when
a worker leaves, since the next place of employment must be supplied
with this report before the individual will be allowed to work with
radioactive materials.
It is important
to return your badge at the proper time. Delays in processing and
reading the badge may invalidate the results. Chances of the badge
being lost are increased with late badge returns.
At any time,
individuals can contact the ORCBS for their dosimeter data. It typically
takes 4 to 6 weeks to have the badges sent off and processed. The
badge vendor will call the ORCBS to report any doses that are significantly
higher than normal (i.e., greater than 200 mrem on a badge) and
the worker will be notified by a Health Physicist. If you suspect
that you have received a significant exposure, contact the Radiation
Safety Officer immediately. Potential exposure will be evaluated,
and the badge may be sent immediately for an emergency reading.
A spare badge will be issued for the interim period. On an emergency
basis, results can be obtained within a few days.
Minors
Working with Radioactive Material
Radiation
Safety Manual Table of Contents
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