Radiation Protection Rules of Thumb & FAQ

A set of radiation protection rules of thumb covering brief guides, frequently asked questions (FAQ), equations or principles, hints and tips for use in the workplace. Use with care (and always with consultation from a Radiation Protection Adviser).

Environmental radiation Monitoring for Ionising Radiation People often ask these radiation protection questions Radioactive Material Radiation Risk Time, distance and shielding Radiation protection units and conversions

  • What is a category 5 radioactive sealed source (UK)?

    Published: Feb 20, 2022

    Source: Ionactive Resource

      Tags:
    • A/D
    • Radioactive source
    • Category 5 sealed source
    • D (Danger) Value

    A brief explanation of 'category 5' radioactive sealed sources.

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  • What is a Radiation Protection Officer (RPO)?

    Published: Oct 03, 2021

    Source: Ionactive Consulting Radiation Protection Resource

      Tags:
    • RPO
    • Radiation Protection Officer
    • Radiation Protection Officer Training
    • online RPO training course

    A Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) is a specialist in radiation protection defined in the UK and also by IAEA. This resource explains the role of the RPO within UK universities, and the slightly different role within companies using ionising radiation around the world.

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  • Skyshine – radiation scattering around and over shielding

    Published: Sept 29, 2021

    Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource

      Tags:
    • Skyshine
    • Radiation Shielding
    • Open top radiography
    • Radiation scatter
    • Radiation skyshine widget

    A easy to read explanation of radiation skyshine (usually x-ray or gamma ray photons, or neutrons) which can leave an open topped (or lightly shielded) enclosure at height, and reach ground level some distance away. In some cases skyshine can yield a peak ground level dose rate which is some distance away from the shielding wall. 

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  • Protection by reducing exposure time - is it always valid?

    Published: Sept 29, 2021

      Tags:
    • Ionising Radiation
    • Protection by time
    • Very high dose rates
    • High activity Co
    • HASS source
    • Pure alpha emitter
    • Po-210
    • Polonium-210
    • Cabinet x-ray systems
    • < 1 μSv/h
    • < 1 micro Sv/h

    Protection by reducing exposure time to ionising radiation is a recognised practice. However, are there occasions where this is not so valid (or not valid at all )? This guidance provides some examples to illustrate this. 

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  • Inverse Square Law - when is a source a point source?

    Published: Sept 29, 2021

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  • Typical radiation exposure from medical diagnostic procedures

    Published: Sept 29, 2021

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe

– Albert Einstein -