UCSD Blink: Radiation Badge and Ring User Guidelines

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	Dosimeter (radiation)
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Blink Home > Safety > Radiation Badge and Ring User Guidelines

Radiation Badge and Ring User Guidelines

Summary: Learn the correct use and care of your radiation dosimetry badge or ring to ensure accurate exposure results.

Read Radiation Exposure Monitoring Overview for more information.

What to do		How to do it
	Wear your dosimeter badge or ring correctly.	The following types of radiation exposure monitoring badges and rings are issued through Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S). Both a badge and a ring may be issued to an individual, depending on the work being performed. Wear your badge(s) any time you work with or near radioactive materials. Whole body badge (black figure pictured on the badge) Campus employees: Wear the badge at chest level on the outside of your lab coat. Hospital employees: Wear the badge at the collar on the outside of your lab coat. Ring Wear the ring under your gloves on the finger likely to get the most exposure. Position the detection element (under the label) towards your palm. Collar badge (red figure pictured on the badge) Wear the badge at collar level on the outside of your lead apron. Waist badge (yellow figure pictured on the badge) Wear the badge at waist level under your lead apron. Fetal badge (female figure with fetus pictured on the badge) Wear the badge at waist level under your lead apron (if used).
	Store your dosimeter safely.	Remove badges and rings when you have completed your work in the radiation use area. Store them in a clean area away from moisture, sunlight, and heat. Never store your badge or ring near a radiation source. It could distort your personal exposure results. If you contaminate, damage, open, take apart, or lose your badge or ring, notify the EH&S Radiation Safety Division immediately at (858) 534-6138.
	Return your dosimeter to be analyzed.	Dosimeters are returned to EH&S for analysis on a routine schedule. A designated individual in your work group will distribute new badges and rings before the old ones are returned. Instructions on how and when to return the dosimeters are always printed on the bag they are delivered in. Follow these guidelines when returning dosimeters to EH&S: Return dosimeters to EH&S in the original grey plastic bag they were delivered in, or place them in a designated drop box if you work at the Medical Center. Do not put a used badge back in its individual cellophane package. Do not rubber band or clip badges together.
	Review your results.	EH&S reviews dosimetry reports and investigates any unusual exposures. You will be notified if your exposure exceeds UCSD's investigational limits. EH&S provides the principal investigator with a dosimetry report for all employees badged under their Radiation Use Authorization (RUA). The dosimetry report is posted in the lab or otherwise made available to the employees. If at any time you have a question about your exposure results, contact the dosimetry program manager at (858) 534-6138.
	Discontinue dosimetry service. Return dosimeters to EH&S when an employee leaves UCSD.	When an employee no longer requires exposure monitoring, follow these steps: Submit a User Cancellation form to discontinue dosimetry service. Return the employee's dosimeter(s) to the EH&S Radiation Safety Division at Mail Code 0035. Do not write "CXL" or "Cancel" on the badge.

If you are a UCSD employee with questions, contact EH&S Radiation Safety, (858) 534-6138.

Notice: Refer to the Radiation Safety Manual (PDF) (Word file) for a detailed description of UCSD's radiation safety program. Also, read about the latest changes (PDF) (Word file).