Radiation Health & SafetyQuestion 24 of 100
A dosimetry report arrives showing an unusually high reading for one assistant. What is the appropriate first step?
a.Discard the report because dental doses are always low
b.Immediately terminate the assistant's employment
c.Have the assistant stop wearing a badge to avoid further readings
d.Investigate the cause, such as badge storage near the tubehead or a technique problem, and correct it
Explanation
An unexpected reading must be investigated, since common causes include leaving the badge in the operatory, wearing it during personal medical imaging, or a genuine technique or equipment failure that requires correction. Discarding the report defeats the purpose of monitoring, and removing the badge hides exposure rather than controlling it. Termination is not a radiation-protection measure and does not address the cause.
Law Reference: NCRP Report No. 145: Radiation Protection in DentistryPractice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
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