A radiation dosimeter or badge does not provide protection but detects and measures radiation that you have been exposed to. The badge will detect high-energy beta, gamma or x-ray radiation.
Information Found On Dosimeters
CONTACT
Sydney Larrabee
Dosimetry Program Coordinator
sydney.larrabee@wisc.edu
Phone: 608-957-5876
Lisa Russell
Pregnancy Surveillance Program Coordinator
lisa.russell@wisc.edu
Phone: 608-287-8222
Office of Radiation Safety
dosimetry@wisc.edu
Dosimetry Return Drop Box Locations
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Office of Radiation Safety - Location C4/3
Office of Radiation Safety - EMC Drop Box
Office of Radiation Safety - Location H6/1
WIMR (Behind elevators where buildings meet)
BEFORE A PARTICIPANT CAN RECEIVE A DOSIMETER
STEP 1:
Before a dosimeter can be prepared for a new radiation worker, have the applicant complete “ONE“ of the necessary trainings below.
Radioactive Materials Users
Radiation Safety Initial Training
X-Ray Producing Device Users
X-Ray Radiation Safety Training
STEP 2:
Fill out the dosimetry application form found here: UW Health Dosimetry Application Form
The applicant will need to know:
- Department/unit
- Sub-account name/code
- The badge group leader’s name, so they make the correct choice on the application
Lifecycle of a Dosimetry Badge
You will receive the dosimeters for participants in your sub-account packaged in a bag/envelope.
NOTE: If there are any missing, notify the dosimetry program coordinator.
Hand out all new/unused dosimeters to participants before the first day of the wear period.
Retrieve all old/used dosimeters from participants from the last wear period.
NOTE: Ideally everyone will have their dosimeter ready to hand back to you. Do not be surprised if extra effort is necessary to retrieve some of them.
Place dosimeters in the bag that was in your original package, in an inter-d envelope, or any other type of bag and return all old/used dosimeters from participants back to the dosimetry program coordinator via drop box (see maps above), or campus mail.
NOTE: For sanitary purposes, please do not put individual dosimeters in the drop boxes.
FAQ’s
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“One of my participants lost their dosimeter”
Have the participant go to: Lost Badge Form to fill out the Lost Badge Form.
“One of my participants would like to check their dose record”
“How do I deactivate one of my participants that no longer requires a dosimeter?”
Provide the following information to the Dosimetry Program Coordinator at dosimetry@wisc.edu.
1. Participant name
2. Sub-account code
3. Date leaving/left
“One of my female participants just told me she is pregnant”
Have them fill out the Declaration of Pregnancy Form found at: UW-Health/UW-Madison Pregnancy Surveillance Program.
The form will automatically go to the Pregnancy Surveillance Program Coordinator. The participant will be contacted to discuss radiation exposure during her pregnancy. A monthly fetal dosimeter will be assigned for the duration of gestation.
“Do I contact Radiation Detection Company or the Dosimetry Program Coordinator?”
Always contact the Dosimetry Program Coordinator to make changes to your sub-account. Also, if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Unreturned Dosimeters
The dosimetry program coordinator will inform you of unreturned dosimeters in the form of e-mail. Unreturned dosimeters cost the program money. This also creates problems because if the dosimeters are not read by Landauer we do not know if participants had high readings or even over exposures.
Please make it a high priority to return all dosimeters. Quarterly e-mail reminders will be sent to badge group leaders to inform them of the unreturned dosimeters. If the dosimeters are lost, please have each participant fill out the Lost Badge Form found at Lost Radiation Dosimeter Form.
Devise a Plan
Work together with co-workers in your unit to come up with an organized plan that works well for your group in the distribution and collection of dosimeters.
Distribution of Annual Form 5
Reports are run yearly for participants that were exposed to 100 mrem or greater.
Sub-account Changes and Questions
Questions and changes to your sub-account can be directed to the Dosimetry Program Coordinator at dosimetry@wisc.edu.
Do not contact Radiation Detection Company,
Definitions
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Activate/Deactivate
To assign or unassign a participant from a sub-account. Their recorded dose information stays with UW’s Dosimetry Provider.
Badge Group Leader
An assigned individual that works within a unit that has a sub-account. They work closely with the dosimetry program coordinator ensuring the participants are up to date within their sub-account. At the beginning of a wear period they receive and distribute new/unused dosimeters to participants. At the end of a wear period they collect and return old/used dosimeters to the Dosimetry Program Coordinator.
Controls
Dosimeter(s) mailed in a sub-account package for detecting radiation while in route through USPS. Receive and return all controls with participant dosimeters.
Dose
The amount of radiation an individual is exposed to.
Dosimeter
A radiation dosimeter is a device that measures dose uptake of external ionizing radiation. It is worn by the person being monitored when used as a personal dosimeter and is a record of the radiation dose received.
Dosimetry
Radiation dosimetry in the fields of health physics and radiation protection is the measurement, calculation and assessment of the ionizing radiation dose absorbed by an object, usually the human body.
Radiation Detection Company
The vendor hired to maintain all information for the dosimetry program.
Participant
An individual that is assigned and receives a dosimeter(s) from UW’s Dosimetry Provider. The dose from their returned/used dosimeters are calculated and recorded into the dosimetry provider system.
Pregnancy Surveillance Program/Fetal Monitoring
This program is voluntary and confidential. Participants can go to: Pregnancy Surveillance Program Page to fill out the Declaration of Pregnancy form. Submitted forms go to the pregnancy surveillance program coordinator.
Spare Dosimeters
A spare dosimeter will be prepared for a new participant so they may begin working before their normal one arrives from our dosimetry provider on their first wear date. Spares are also prepared for participants that may lose theirs during a wear period (e-mail the dosimetry program coordinator to request one).
Sub-Account Name
A name assigned to an individual department/unit to identify their dosimeters. E.g.: “Dairy Science”
Sub-Account Code
The code given to an individual Sub-Account Name. E.g.: “DS”
Wear Period/Frequency
The amount of time a dosimeter(s) is worn by a participant. There are monthly (01/01/2025 – 01/31/2025) and quarterly wear periods (01/01/2025 – 03/31/2025).