Question 126: Individuals performing assigned duties are
often exposed to small amounts of radiation from plant
effluents at licensees' sites under normal operating
conditions. (a) If these individuals are likely to
receive, or have already received, in excess of 10% of an
occupational dose limit from external sources, does the
licensee have to determine, record, and report doses from
the effluents to comply with the revised Part 20? (b) If
so, what are the monitoring thresholds for the external and
internal components of the dose?
to monitor and record the external dose from the effluents,
since the individuals are in excess of 10% of the
occupational dose limit from all external sources 20.1502
(a)). However, the licensee is not required to monitor the
effluent dose separately from other external doses.
occupational dose only if the individuals are likely to
receive in excess of 10% of the applicable ALIs from all
occupational intakes of radioactive material. Note: For
nuclear power plants, the preceding answer does not mean
that all workers for whom monitoring of external dose is
required must wear their personal dosimeters at all times
while on site. Such workers in controlled areas (outside
restricted areas) need not wear personal dosimeters to
measure external doses from effluents. However, they
should wear personal dosimeters in a controlled area when
performing work that has the potential for significant
occupational exposure such as performing a radiation survey
of a vehicle loaded with a shipment of radioactive
material. (Reference: 10 CFR 20.1502)