Radiation Safety Practice Exam

How can personnel best avoid tracking contamination out of a controlled environment?

1. By wearing outdoor shoes

2. By not touching any surfaces

3. By monitoring personnel before they exit

4. By restricting movement within the facility

The correct answer is: By monitoring personnel before they exit

Monitoring personnel before they exit a controlled environment is the most effective way to avoid tracking contamination outside of that area. This process typically involves checking for contamination on clothing, shoes, and personal items before individuals leave. By doing so, any potential contamination can be detected and addressed, ensuring that it does not spread beyond the controlled environment. This proactive approach helps maintain cleanliness and safety in areas that are at risk of contamination, particularly in settings involving radiation or hazardous materials. Monitoring can include the use of contamination detection instruments, which provides an added layer of protection by ensuring compliance with safety protocols. In contrast, relying on outdoor shoes or touching surfaces does not offer the necessary safeguards against contamination. Additionally, restricting movement within the facility might reduce the likelihood of contamination spread, but it does not directly address the potential for contamination to leave the controlled area if personnel are not monitored prior to exiting. Thus, effective monitoring stands out as the best method to maintain safety and prevent contamination from leaving an area where it is controlled.