A person who holds a patient during radiographic exposure should satisfy which condition?

• A. Be monitored and have records of their exposure maintained
• B. Wear 0.5mm lead equivalent gonadal shielding
• C. Be monitored
• D. Have records of their exposure maintained

Answer: (A)

Holding a patient during radiographic exposure puts you in the path of the primary beam, making you an occupational radiation worker who must be monitored with a dosimeter and have exposure records kept. Monitoring provides a measurable dose trace, so your cumulative exposure can be managed and kept within safety limits, while maintaining records ensures regulatory compliance and the ability to review exposure histories over time. Wearing gonadal shielding is intended to protect the patient and is not a requirement for staff during radiography, and relying on shielding alone does not address the need to monitor and document dose. Being monitored without records leaves you without a documented dose history, and having records without monitoring leaves you without current dose information. Therefore, the best practice is to be monitored and have exposure records maintained.