Personal monitoring

Personal dose monitoring provides the important check and reassurance that radiation doses to those working with radiation are at a level that complies with dose constraints. The quantity which is relevant to external personal monitoring is the personal dose equivalent Hp(d) defined by the ICRU. Values at different depths d are equated to effective dose or doses to the skin or eye lens. This chapter contains the basic information that the radiation protection practitioner needs on personal monitoring, and the requirements for running a personal dose-monitoring service, including dosimeter calibration, performance testing, and record keeping. Techniques used in different types of dosemeters such as thermoluminescent dosimetry and optically stimulated luminescence, as well as neutron detection are explained, together with practical considerations for eye dose and extremity monitoring. Use of electronic personal dosemeters is discussed and techniques for monitoring internal exposure are described.