Under California law, shielding is required for mobile x-ray equipment in which combination of conditions?

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 1 and 3
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Shielding in mobile radiography is all about protecting people who could be exposed to scatter radiation when the unit isn’t behind fixed barriers. California law requires shielding when the situation creates a plausible pathway for scatter or leakage to someone other than the patient and the operator, especially in spaces that aren’t equipped with permanent protective barriers.

The correct combination means two risk factors are present together, which together push the exposure below the allowed limit if shielding isn’t used. When those two conditions are met, shielding becomes mandatory. If only the third condition occurs by itself, the regulation may not require additional shielding, depending on other factors such as distance and occupancy. For clear application, you’d look up the exact California regulatory text, but conceptually the rule hinges on the presence of two contributing risk factors that make shielding necessary to protect others.