If you lose your dosimeter, what is the correct sequence?

• A. Continue work
• B. Stop work
• C. Ignore
• D. Leave the area and report later

Answer: (B)

Losing a dosimeter triggers an immediate safety stop. Your dosimeter is your personal monitor for radiation exposure, so if you can’t verify how much exposure you’ve received up to now, continuing work would risk undetected overexposure. The first step is to stop work right away and remove yourself from active tasks as dictated by site procedures.

After stopping, follow the required process: report the loss to your supervisor or the radiological control team, secure the area if needed, and obtain a replacement dosimeter before resuming work. This sequence protects you and others by reestablishing radiation monitoring and ensuring exposure remains within limits. Leaving the area and reporting later or ignoring the loss would leave you unmonitored and could lead to unsafe exposure levels.