Registering Radiation Workers
If you are using radioactive materials or radiation producing machines, please complete the Radiation Worker Registration Form [PDF] and submit it to the Radiation Safety Office radiation.safety@drexel.edu. The Radiation Safety Office will use this to determine training and personal radiation monitoring requirements, if any.
The institution is legally obligated to provide radiation monitors to individuals that are likely to exceed 10 percent of the occupational radiation exposure limits. The following table provides doses at which radiation monitoring is obligatory.
|
Annual Dose Limit (mrem) |
Monitoring Required (mrem) |
Adult Whole Body |
5,000 |
500 |
Extremity |
50,000 |
5,000 |
Fetus (per gestation) |
500 |
100 |
Minor Whole Body |
500 |
100 |
Drexel University chooses to provide radiation monitoring at levels lower than required. The rule of thumb used is to monitor individuals that may receive measurable radiation doses. The following table provides guidance for radiation monitoring.
Exposure Source |
Conditions / Monitoring |
Low to moderate energy beta emitters: e.g., 3H, 14C, 35S, 33P , 45Ca, 63Ni
|
Radiation too weak to be measured. No monitoring provided
|
High energy beta emitters: e.g., 32P, 90Sr/90Y, 86Rb
|
Manipulation of >1 mCi at any time. Extremity (finger/hand) monitoring
|
Unshielded photon emitters
|
Manipulation of >0.1 mCi at any time. Whole body / extremity monitoring
|
Open beam x-ray machines
|
Any operation of equipment unless behind shielded area. Extremity monitoring
|
Enclosed beam x-ray machines
|
Shielding provided by enclosure. No monitoring provided
|
Devices containing radioactivity
|
Determined on a case by case basis. |