Frequently Asked Questions - Products

1. What is a dosimeter?
2. What is a 'control' dosimeter?
3. Should my group have a 'control' dosimeter?
4. What is an Electronic Personal Dosimeter (EPD)?
5. What are the benefits of using an EPD?
6. Who should use an EPD to monitor real-time exposure to radiation?
7. Do you have an instruction booklet?
8. Where do I wear my dosimeter?
9. My regulator asked me how much radiation my employees receive in a year. How do I find this information?
10. How do I find my dose history?

1. What is a dosimeter?

   A dosimeter is a device used to measure the amount of ionizing radiation. After a dosimeter is worn for a period of time, a technologist analyses it to find out how much ionizing radiation the user was exposed to.

2. What is a 'control' dosimeter?

   Control dosimeters may accompany group shipments to monitor how much radiation the dosimeters are exposed to during transit and to also measure natural background radiation at the workplace during the wearing period.

   During analysis of the dosimeter, we subtract the reading from the control dosimeter from the reading of each associated dosimeter (same group and wearing duration). This gives a result for each dosimeter that is due only to exposure to radiation in the workplace.

3. Should my group have a 'control' dosimeter?

   We strongly recommend having a control dosimeter for each shipment. A control dosimeter accurately measures all exposure to radiation that is not work-related for each shipment of dosimeters.

4. What is an Electronic Personal Dosimeter (EPD)?

   The EPD is a personal radiation monitor. The EPD detects radiation and displays it, telling you:

   • penetrating dose;
   • superficial dose; and
   • the dose rates

   The EPD detects and measures beta, X-ray, and soft and hard gamma radiation exposure in the workplace. Other features include:

   • immediate real-time readings of ionizing radiation;
   • light in weight; and
   • relatively small in dimensions (86 × 62 × 18.5 mm, excluding clip)
5. What are the benefits of using an EPD?

   The EPD is a tool for managing how much radiation you receive. Benefits of using it include:

   • You know how much ionizing radiation you've been exposed to right away
   • It calculates both the accumulated dose and the dose rate for a body dose (Hp(10)) and a skin dose (Hp(0.07)). These and other data are stored in an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) within the EPD. Data are written and read from the EPD via an integral infra-red communications interface
   • An EPD is returned to us once a year for calibration if it remains undamaged
   • You don't need to return the EPD to us for processing
6. Who should use an EPD to monitor real-time exposure to radiation?

   People exposed to radiation in their work environment can wear an EPD to monitor exposure to radiation. People who work in high radiation work environments are using an EPD as a complementary tool in addition to thermoluminescence dosimeters. EPD users are first responders, such as fire fighters, police, and staff from National Defence and the Canadian Forces, industrial radiographers and staff at nuclear reactors.

7. Do you have an instruction booklet?

   Yes. We provide one for our products and services to all of our new customers.

8. Where do I wear my dosimeter?

   Dosimeters range in size, shape, and functionality. Our customers usually use thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD). The most common type is "whole body" TLDs. They should be worn on the front of the torso. They are commonly worn clipped to clothing at waist or chest level. Some customers also use extremity wrist TLDs which are worn on the wrist, and extremity ring TLDs, which are worn on the fingers. Your name list will tell you where your assigned dosimeter should be worn.

9. My regulator asked me how much radiation my employees receive in a year. How do I find this information?

   For reports on exposure to radiation for the year, please contact your customer service representative

10. How do I find my dose history? You can get this information by contacting the National Dose Registry. Follow the links to Dose History Request Form.

Need more information? Speak to a Customer Service Representative