How often should personnel dosimeters be read to ensure radiation safety compliance?

Personnel dosimeters should be read quarterly to ensure radiation safety compliance. This frequency allows for timely monitoring of an individual's exposure to radiation, enabling health and safety personnel to identify trends or unexpected increases in exposure levels. Reading dosimeters on a quarterly basis balances the need for regular oversight with practical considerations, such as resource availability and administrative workload.

Frequent readings, such as daily or monthly, might result in unnecessary burdens on processing and management, particularly in environments where exposure levels are consistently low. On the other hand, annual readings may not provide adequate oversight, as significant changes in exposure levels could go undetected for too long, potentially compromising safety compliance. Therefore, quarterly readings effectively serve to maintain oversight while ensuring that radiation exposure is monitored closely and any necessary interventions can be made promptly.