Performance testing of extremity dosimeters against a draft standard

The assurance of worker radiation safety is directly related to the performance of personnel dosimetry. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has long recognized this critical relationship and has addressed this issue by instituting the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program (DOELAP) which strives to improve the quality of personnel dosimetry through performance testing, dosimetry calibration, intercomparisons, evaluations and accreditations. One area of personnel dosimetry that has not been specifically addressed by DOELAP is extremity dosimeter testing. This task was directed at assessing the problems of implementing extremity dosimeter performance testing. A series of performance tests were made based on a draft standard written by the Health Physics Society Standards Committee (HPSSC) using extremity dosimeters currently in use at DOE and DOE contractor facilities. The results of this study indicate the need to incorporate performance testing of extremity dosimetry systems into DOELAP. Based on the results of this study, recommendations are made for improvements to the draft standard. 20 refs., 6 figs., 3 tabs.