Working Safely with Radiation

When using radiactive sources it is important:

• Minimise people's __________ to radiation:
  • don't point sources at __________
  • to put sources in __________ immediately after use
  • maintain a __________, recording when the sources have been used and who was present
• Avoid personal __________:
  • not to handle the sources directly, but use __________
  • use __________ sources where posible
  • when using unsealed sources wear __________ protective overall / gloves

These precautions are necessary because __________ radiation can cause:

• damage to human tissue
• cancer
• radiation sickness / burns
• mutation of cells leading to illness
• sterilsation

Workers who are at risk from radiation often wear a radiation badge to monitor the amount of radiation they have been exposed to over a period of time. The badge is a small packet containing photographic film. The more radiation a worker has been exposed to, the darker the film is when it has been developed.

1. Why do the safety badges have 3 different windows?  
   
   
2. What type of radiation have these piece of photographic paper from safety badges been exposed to?