Answer to Question #2964 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Policy, Guidelines, and Regulations — Guidance Documents

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Would you please explain about the policy in a situation where someone receives a total effective dose more than appropriate dose limits, for example, in an emergency situation? Can he or she continue his or her work with radiation in that period? What are the employer's or licensee's responsibilities?

Under current NRC regulations (10 CFR Part 20.1201 and 20.2104), all occupational doses, including emergency doses, are required to be included as part of the occupational worker's exposure history, and hence can affect the workers allowable exposure during that year. Currently, if a person is assessed a history of 5 rem or more for the current year as an occupational worker, the regulations state that this individual would not be permitted to receive any additional occupational dose during that year.

In establishing administrative controls, your employer may also have other restrictions. In those cases, you should contact your employer's Radiation Safety Officer for further information.

Cynthia G. Jones, PhD

Answer posted on November 18, 2003. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.