When the radiographer must stay in the room during exposure, which precautions are required?

• A. All of the above
• B. Wear protective apparel
• C. Stand as far as practicable from the radiation source
• D. Use personnel monitoring devices

Answer: (A)

When you must stay in the room during exposure, use a combination of shielding, distance, and monitoring to minimize your dose. Wearing protective apparel, such as a lead apron and thyroid shield, reduces the amount of scattered radiation reaching your torso and neck. Standing as far as practicable from the radiation source takes advantage of the inverse square relationship between distance and dose—the further you are, the lower your exposure. Using a personnel monitoring device (dosimeter) records the radiation you receive over time so you can ensure you stay within occupational exposure limits and verify that protective measures are effective. Because each of these steps individually reduces exposure, doing all of them together provides the best protection when you must be in the room during the exam.