What should be done with the control dosimeter from a monitoring company?

The control dosimeter serves a critical role in monitoring the accuracy and integrity of radiation exposure readings from personal dosimeters. It is designed to measure background radiation and ensure that the readings from the personal dosimeters are not influenced by any additional exposure during storage or transport.

Storing the control dosimeter away from ionizing radiation is essential to maintain its integrity as a baseline measurement tool. This practice prevents any unintended exposure that could lead to inaccurate assessments of the radiation doses received by personnel. By keeping it in a low-radiation environment, the monitoring company can guarantee that the control dosimeter reflects only background radiation levels, thus ensuring reliability in comparing personal dosimeter readings to the expected levels of exposure.

In contrast, keeping it in the x-ray room or with used personal dosimeters could lead to contamination of the control dosimeter's data. Exposing it to high levels of radiation would defeat its purpose entirely, as it would then inaccurately reflect the radiation exposure that should be measured by the personal dosimeters. These practices highlight the importance of maintaining the validity of dosimetric data used in radiation protection programs.