Re: RADSAFE digest 3384 (extremity dose)

[Bob Flood <bflood@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

>If individuals are directly handling unshielded sources without remote
handling,
>then fingertip badges are needed (assuming significant dose is being
received*).

Wrist dosimeters offer an operational convenience that is very attractive to
many programs, but it comes with a significant cost in terms of work
required. Except in very unusual exposure geometries, the wrist will not be
the maximally exposed location of the extremity being monitored. Therefore,
the dose measured at the wrist will have to be adjusted by a factor that has
been determined experimentally or by calculation. In either case,
considerable homework and good documentation of the basis for such a factor
will be necessary if the facility wishes to have any hope of defending the
assigned doses, should a need arise.

A side note: extremity dosimeters are a constant source of complaints - they
are uncomfortable and interfere with the wearer's activities, and wrist
dosimeters are no exception. Do not expect to see user complaints decrease
if you switch to wrist badges.
============================
Bob Flood
Dosimetry Group Leader
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
bflood@slac.stanford.edu


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