What is a typical occupational dose limit for ionizing radiation and how is it measured?

• A. 50 mSv per year measured by digital shields
• B. 5 Sv per year measured by thermometer
• C. 0.1 mSv per year measured by scale
• D. 50 mSv per year measured via personal dosimetry (film, OSLD, or TLD badges)

Answer: (D)

Understanding how occupational exposure is controlled helps you see why this answer fits. In radiation safety, the dose limit for workers is set to protect health by capping how much radiation a person can receive in a given time. The practical annual cap is 50 mSv in a single year, and there’s also a guideline that the average over five years should not exceed about 20 mSv per year to limit long-term risk. Doses are measured with personal dosimeters worn on the body—film badges, OSLD (optically stimulated luminescent) badges, or TLD (thermoluminescent) badges. These devices accumulate dose during exposure and are read periodically to ensure the worker remains within the limit. The other figures don’t match how occupational dose is defined or how it’s measured, and typical devices used to measure dose aren’t thermometers or scales.