Always store control monitors away from any radiation sources.
What is a control monitor?
A control monitor measures the radiation dose from the natural background radiation at your workplace.
How is occupational exposure calculated?
The natural background dose is subtracted from the measurements obtained by the personal monitors, leaving only the dose specifically related to occupational exposure. Our laboratory handles the background subtraction, which is why we exclude the control dose from the dose reports.
How do the control monitor and the personal monitor work together?
The diagram below shows the relationship between a control monitor and a personal monitor.
How should control monitors be stored?
To ensure proper storage of the control monitor and personal monitors when not in use, it is important to keep them in a location that is:
- not exposed to radioactive materials
- far from radiation-generating equipment.
Since each workplace is different, there is no universally ideal storage location. However, here are some general guidelines and considerations to keep in mind:
- Store the monitors in an area that is easily accessible to all individuals who are being monitored
- Choose a storage location that reflects the typical background radiation levels in your workplace. This means keeping the monitors away from any radioactive sources, but not storing them in a shielded container
- Store the monitors away from walkways or areas where radiation sources or nuclear medicine patients may pass through
- If your workplace consists of multiple buildings or floors, it may be advisable to have separate control monitors for each of these areas.
Below is an example of how control monitors and personal monitors can be stored when not in use.
How is an Area monitor different?
An Area monitor continuously measures ambient radiation levels above the background in a particular area.
It is useful for:
- tracking radiation level trends over time
- assessing the effectiveness of radiation shielding and other safety measures.
It's important to note that control monitors and area monitors are used for different purposes.
