What Is a Dosimetry Badge?

Explore the dangers of radiation exposure, learn how a dosimetry badge works, and explore badges offered by Radiation Detection Company.

A dosimetry badge (also commonly referred to as a personal dosimeter) is a device that measures the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. Dosimetry badges are vital for personnel who work with radioactive materials.

Radiation badges are the primary component of radiation dosimetry: the accurate and systematic measurement, calculation, and assessment of the ionizing radiation dose absorbed by matter or tissue. Dosimetry is broken into two branches: internal absorption and external radiation; dosimetry badges are crucial to external radiation.

Key Takeaways: Dosimetry Badges

• Dosimetry badges are essential for safety – they help measure radiation exposure to keep workers safe in environments with radioactive materials.
• Radiation can be dangerous – it can damage DNA in cells and lead to health problems like cancer. Monitoring exposure with badges helps protect workers.
• Technology is advancing – newer devices, like the NetDose™ Dosimeter, offer real-time radiation exposure monitoring, improving safety measures by providing more granular reporting.
• Safety programs are key – effective programs include monitoring, controls, training, and emergency plans to ensure a safe workplace for those around radiation.

The Dangers of Radiation Exposure

Radiation exposure can be hazardous to both occupational personnel and the general public. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to affect the atoms in living cells and damage their genetic material (DNA) by breaking molecular bonds. You'll remember that ionizing radiation includes X-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles, and neutron radiation.

Altered cell structures and damaged DNA from ionizing radiation can cause serious health problems, including increased cancer risk. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) established occupational dose limits for people working with ionizing radiation as a form of radiation protection for personnel monitoring.

Radiation badges help ensure that radiation workers do not exceed the allowable limits established by these governing bodies.

Radiation Safety in the Workplace

As we laid out in a previous blog, "Radiation Safety Programs: A Comprehensive Guide," an effective radiation safety program includes:

• A dosimetry program that follows personal exposure monitoring as required by federal or state regulations
• Surveys and area monitoring to document elevated radiation levels, contamination with radioactive materials, and potential occupational exposures
• Radiological controls, including entry and exit controls, receiving, inventory control, storage, and disposal
• Essential training for workers that covers radiation protection, including information on the adverse health effects associated with ionizing radiation dose
• Emergency procedures to recognize and respond to radiological emergencies
• Accurate reporting to maintain all records and provide dosimetry reports and notifications
• Internal procedures to audit all aspects of the radiation program annually to ensure adequate protection

How Dosimeter Badges Measure Radiation Dose

Personal dosimeters are the most common instruments used to calculate absorbed dose. Absorbed dose measures the energy deposited in matter by ionizing radiation per unit mass; it is a measurable quantity and a key component of radiation protection.

While thermoluminescent dosimeters and optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters provide a solution in personal dosimetry, their methods differ slightly. Only a small fraction of atoms (called the emission center or luminescence center) emit light in luminescence. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) then quantifies the visible light emitted. The amount of emitted light is proportional to the amount of ionizing radiation exposure the dosimeter received.

TLDs and OSL dosimeters are very similar: both badges rely on crystalline solids. A technological advancement from older radiation film badges, both TLD and OSL dosimeters capture point dose measurements, or radiation doses, in a relatively small volume. Both are single-measurement detectors that require lab processing for a readout (different than detectors used in relative dosimetry).

The essential difference between a TLD dosimeter and an OSL dosimeter is that processing a TLD dosimeter requires heat, while an OSL dosimeter requires only optical stimulation.

NetDose™ Dosimeter, on the other hand, is a digital dosimeter that uses detectors that feed into amplifiers and counter circuits that calculate and display the dose rate and deep and skin dose on the display.

Types of Radiation Badges Offered by RDC

TLD Badge

Our thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) offers reliable and precise radiation monitoring for various applications, ensuring safety and compliance in demanding environments. Staff working with occupational radiation most commonly use TLDs for whole body exposure to monitor

RDC's TLD badge is resistant to moisture and environmental influences with a tissue-equivalent design for the most accurate dose reporting and a market-leading lower limit of detection (LLD) over all wear periods. Our TLD measures beta, gamma, X-ray, and neutron radiation exposure and is suitable for whole body, fetal, wrist, or area monitoring.

Optically Stimulated Luminescence Badge

RDC's standard OSL badge is a 2-element beryllium oxide (BeO) badge designed to provide precise dose readings for X-ray and gamma radiation, even under extreme conditions. Like the TLD, our OSL features a tissue-equivalent design for the most accurate dose reporting with a market-leading LLD over all wear periods for whole body, fetal, and area monitoring.

Our OSL is resistant to extreme temperatures and moisture and can be re-read with archiving options available.

NetDose™ Dosimeter

The NetDose™ Dosimeter by RDC offers real-time radiation monitoring, on-demand dose reports, and easy badge reassignment – saving you time and money by increasing productivity. This digital dosimeter ensures the dose received remains within the allowable dose limit and provides organizations with real-time insights and peace of mind in confirming safety in the work environment.

NetDose™ Dosimeter measures photons (both gamma and X-ray radiation). Get more information and product specifications on NetDose™ Dosimeter here.

Reporting periods are on-demand, with weekly routine reading – no need for the usual routine of shipping badges. This dosimeter can take incremental dose readings every hour, storing results in memory and transmitting data on demand or automatically each week. This flexibility and customization gives organizations more autonomy and control over radiation dose report times. Organizations can easily reassign the digital dosimeter to other workers and track employee exposures during specific times.

Ring Badge

RDC offers a TLD ring dosimeter for radiation workers whose job functions potentially require their extremities (like fingers) to receive a higher exposure. These employees may benefit from a ring badge to ensure the extremity dose received remains within the allowable dose limits.

Wrist Badge

Fitted with a Velcro strap, our TLD wrist badge is easy to wear and ideal for radiation workers whose arms may be more exposed during occupational tasks.

Fetal Monitoring

Our fetal badge is a four-element radiation badge. This neutron fetal monitor allows pregnant radiation workers to ensure the fetus does not exceed 500 mrem for the entire gestational period. Pregnant employees should wear the badge close to the embryo/fetus to obtain the most accurate dose.

Frequently Asked Questions About Radiation Badges

What does a dosimetry badge do?

Radiation badges do not directly protect workers from exposure. However, they are the main component of radiation dosimetry, which documents radiation dose. Dosimetry badges help employees and organizations monitor their exposure to avoid exceeding the allowable limits established by governing bodies.

Who is required to wear a dosimeter?

While requirements may vary based on national, state, and local regulations, anyone working with radioactive material should wear a dosimeter badge.

Explore RDC's Radiation Monitoring Solutions

Choosing the right partner in radiation monitoring is essential in protecting your employees against radiation exposure risks. Our service is convenient, fast, and built to tackle real-world challenges. Radiation Detection Company has 75 years of experience providing quality dosimetry service to over 31,000 companies worldwide.

Want to hear more about the types of personal dosimeters we offer? Our team will be happy to provide guidance.

Do you have a question that we did not address in this article? Please contact our Customer Care team, and one of our specialists will be more than happy to help.

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