"Radiation badges" (dosimeters) are generally used to monitor personnel and areas where radiation sources are used. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires that personnel monitoring be performed if a worker is "likely to receive, in 1 year...doses in excess of 10 percent of the applicable limits." University policy requires personnel to wear radiation badges when using more than 1 mCi of radioactive material which decays by gamma or beta emission with E_max > 200 keV.

These dosimeters are used to monitor not just whole body exposure, but also exposure to a worker's hands. Extremity monitors are ring badges with a single chip. Persons working with small amounts of radioactivity or low energy emitters such as ¹⁴C, ³H or ⁶³Ni do not need to wear dosimetry badges.

Whole body and extremity dosimeters are available from the Radiation Safety Program free of charge. To obtain a dosimeter, contact Radiation Safety and request a "Personal Dosimeter Application" form; complete the form and return it to Radiation Safety. Note, all persons requesting dosimeters must have successfully completed the radiation safety exam.

If you have been issued a dosimeter to monitor your radiation exposure, you should follow a few simple rules to ensure that the dosimeter accurately records your radiation exposure.

Dosimetry reports are sent to the Radiation Safety Program office monthly and quarterly from the processing lab. You will be notified immediately of any overexposure or of levels that warrant investigation. Permanent records of actual doses recorded by the dosimeters assigned to individuals during their affiliation with the University are maintained by Radiation Safety. You can request your exposure history at any time by calling 229-4275.