When must personnel be monitored in a radiological setting?

In a radiological setting, monitoring personnel when moving from a higher zone to a lower zone is crucial due to the differing levels of radiation exposure associated with these zones. Higher zones typically have elevated levels of radiation or contaminated areas, necessitating careful monitoring to ensure that individuals are not carrying radioactive material with them into more controlled areas. This monitoring helps maintain safety protocols and prevents the inadvertent spread of contamination.

Furthermore, personnel may have absorbed some degree of radiation exposure while in the higher zone, and monitoring during this transition ensures that their exposure levels remain within acceptable limits and that appropriate decontamination procedures can be applied if necessary. It is a key practice in radiation safety to ensure that all movements between zones are tracked and that any potential hazards are managed effectively.