Hand book on the use of TLD badge based on CaSO4:Dy teflon TLD discs for individual monitoring

Individual monitoring is one of the most important aspects of a radiation protection programme. In India, an official and centralized personnel monitoring service to radiation workers started in 1952. With the indigenous development of a TLD badge system in 1975 at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, decentralization of monitoring service was initiated. At present, about 40,000 radiation workers are monitored using this system through twelve TLD units located in different parts of the country, including a private accredited laboratory. Regulatory and other inspecting bodies have often asked outstation TLD units to produce a duly approved document on the procedures being practiced for the assessment of personal doses. A need for such a document has also been felt to ensure the uniformity in processing of dosemeters, recording and reporting of doses by different TLD units and to provide guidelines regarding the infrastructure requirement. This document in the form of a handbook has been prepared to cater to the above needs. The handbook is expected to provide necessary guidelines not only to the newcomers/ forthcoming units and the existing laboratories but also to help the regulators, inspectors and assessors. (author)