Frequently asked questions about personal dosimetry
Here you can find answers to the most common questions about dose monitoring and the use of personal dosimeters issued by the Personal Dosimetry Laboratory (PL) at the Danish Health Authority, Radiation Protection (SIS).
More information about conditions for using the personal dosimeters can be found by consulting the Danish legislation on radiation protection. See also the delivery conditions of SIS PL.
Feel free to contact us by telephone +45 44543456 or by e-mail pl@sis.dk if you have any further questions.
How do I register our company for dose monitoring?
On our website, you can find the web form ‘Create dosimetry service agreement’. Once this is completed and submitted to us, we will register you in our IT system and send you a customer number. Using this customer number and the web form ‘Submit changes regarding dose monitoring’, your organisation's radiation exposed workers can be enrolled in dose monitoring. The web forms are only available in Danish, however, so please contact us if you have any questions.
How to enroll a worker in dose monitoring?
On our website, you can find the web form ‘Submit changes regarding dose monitoring’. If you have a customer number, it is possible to enter information about the individual workers to be dose monitored, including their civil registration numbers, the dosimeters they need and the desired replacement frequency. Information is sent to us securely and encrypted. If there is a need to enroll workers who do not have a Danish civil registration number, the necessary information can be written in the ‘comments’ field.
How to deregister a worker who are no longer needed to be dose monitored?
On our website, you can find the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring'. Here you can enter the enrolments to be cancelled and the date from which this is desired. All workers enrolled in dose monitoring have been assigned an enrolment number and this can be found on all delivery notes that are sent with the dosimeters.
How do we report changes to our dose monitoring subscription, e.g. change of address?
On our website, you can find the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring'. This can be used to submit information about changes to the delivery address, new contact person and changes to invoicing, including the invoice address.
How can I get an overview of who is enrolled in dose monitoring?
Submit the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring' with the text "Overview" in the ‘comments’ field, and we will send you a comprehensive list of people enrolled in dose monitoring as soon as possible.
How to wear the personal dosimeter correctly?
The dosimeters are accompanied by a list indicating where each dosimeter should be placed. For example, a whole body dosimeter should be placed in a suitable location on the body, e.g. at chest height, and a finger dosimeter should be placed on the finger. We generally recommend that the dosimeter is placed where the greatest radiation exposure (dose) is expected. However, the whole body dosimeter should be placed under a lead apron when using one. If there are more exact recommendations on the specific use of a dosimeter, you should of course follow these. You can also find further information on the placement of individual dosimeters on our website. You should also involve your company's associated radiation protection officer if in doubt about the correct use of dosimeters.
Is it OK to carry your personal dosimeter in your hand luggage for security checks at the airport?
No, it is not. During the security check at the airport, the hand luggage will be X-rayed. This will result in a dose to the dosimeter which will not be distinguishable from the dose that the person using the dosimeter would otherwise receive when working with ionising radiation. Due to increased requirements for airport security checks, a dosimeter can receive a dose of up to 1 mSv (one millisievert) in a single scan. If the dosimeter is placed in checked baggage, there is a risk for it to receive even higher doses. If it is necessary to carry your dosimeter with you when travelling, we therefore recommend that you ask the security staff to visually inspect the dosimeter instead. The security control at Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup is informed that personal dosimeters should be inspected without the use of ionising radiation.
Is it OK to borrow a personal dosimeter from another worker?
As the name suggests, a personal dosimeter is personal and can therefore only be used for dose monitoring by one person. An unused dosimeter can be transferred to another person if this is notified to us. The transfer request can be submitted via the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring' on our website.
What should I do if I have not received the personal dosimeters I have ordered?
Please check if the personal dosimeters are in your internal mail or if a change of address has been reported to us. Please inform us no later than five working days after the start of the measurement period, otherwise we will consider the dosimeters as received.
What should I do if the foil of the whole-body dosimeter has been opened or is broken on receipt?
If a personal dosimeter was broken on receipt, please let us know within 5 working days of receipt and we will send you a replacement dosimeter. In all cases, use a new personal dosimeter and return the faulty one as soon as possible.
Why do I get a new personal dosimeter when I have deregistered the user?
If the user is not deregistered at least 14 days before the start of a new measurement period, a new personal dosimeter will be sent for this period. After this, the cancellation will take effect.
I have transferred a personal dosimeter to a new user. Why do I still receive personal dosimeters for the original user?
A transfer of a personal dosimeter is not a deregistration of the original user; that user must be deregistered independently. A transfer of a personal dosimeter also acts as a registration of the new user. It is possible to set an end date for the transfer if the new user does not wish to be enrolled for dose monitoring.
Why did I not receive a red holder for the whole body dosimeter I have ordered?
The red holder must be ordered separately. For practical reasons, the holder and the named dosimeter may be sent separately; please contact us if you do not receive the holder the next day.
Do I have to return the red holder after use?
No, you don't. The holder is yours to keep and can be used as long as it is intact. The holder can be disposed of as general waste containing metal and plastic.
Can an enrolment for dose monitoring be paused?
No, it cannot. Enrolments for dose monitoring must be cancelled. However, it is possible to create a new enrolment at the same time with a start date after the desired pause.
Why do I still receive personal dosimeters when I have deregistered my radiation sources?
If you do not wish to continue dose monitoring, the relevant enrolments must be cancelled directly with us. This can be done via the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring' on our website.
When should I return the personal dosimeters?
Personal dosimeters must be returned as soon as possible after the expiry of their intended measurement period. The start and end date of the measurement period is indicated on the delivery note provided and may also be written on the personal dosimeter itself.
Why have I received a reminder for non-returned personal dosimeters?
Reminders for non-returned dosimeters are automatically generated in our system. The list provided shows all non-returned dosimeters for which the end date has been passed by one month. At the same time as the reminders are sent out, the missing dose readings are reported to the Danish Health Authority's Register for Personal Dosimetry, SRP.
Why do I receive a reminder for a personal dosimeter, even if I have informed you that it has been lost?
Reminders for unreturned dosimeters are automatically generated in our system, regardless of what has been previously notified to us, even if the personal dosimeter has been reported lost. At the same time as reminders are sent out, the missing dose readings are reported to the Danish Health Authority's Register for Personal Dosimetry, SRP.
Why do I receive a reminder for personal dosimeters when they have been submitted for readout?
If the personal dosimeters have been submitted recently, the reminder and the submission of the dosimeters may have intersected. It happens, but fortunately rarely, that sent personal dosimeters do not reach us. However, if sent by regular mail, the dispatch time may be longer. If personal dosimeters that have been dispatched do not reach us, the responsibility lies with the customer.
Why can't the dose monitoring results be sent to digital mailboxes other than E-boks?
When we use the digital mail solution (E-boks), there is the following rationale behind it:
- The solution reduces the delivery time of dose results compared to physical mail, as it cuts whole days from the time the dosimeters are handed in to us and until the customer has his result.
- The solution complies with the new GDPR rules, which means that the shipment must necessarily be encrypted from sender to recipient.
- The solution ensures that we continue to comply with the requirements in connection with our accreditation, which is given in ISO 17025. Among other things, this standard sets requirements for the integrity and validity of the measurement report sent.
- The solution allows us to easily send the dose results to all companies subscribed to the digital mail service.
Does SIS PL report doses to the Danish Health Authority's Register for Personal Dosimetry, SRP?
Yes, we do. Receipt of a result list is a simultaneous confirmation that the applicable doses have been reported to the SRP.
Does SIS PL inform PL of increased doses?
Yes, we do. We notify both the company and the Danish Health Authority if a measured personal dose exceeds the legal requirements for notification.
What should I do if the personal dosimeter has been left in an area containing radiation sources?
Use a new personal dosimeter and return the irradiated personal dosimeter to us as soon as possible, supplemented with a note explaining the reason.
How long do I have to keep the results lists?
It is required by law that results lists must be kept for the last 5 calendar years, including the current year.
Can I receive an annual dose report?
Unfortunately, we are not able to send out summaries of personal doses.
Why do I have to pay for a personal dosimeter when I have deregistered the user?
If the user is not deregistered at least 14 days before the start of a new measurement period, a new personal dosimeter will be issued for this period. After this, the cancellation takes effect. Payment must be made for all sent personal dosimeters.
Why do I receive a paper invoice instead of an electronic invoice via EAN number or e-mail?
This is because we do not have information about your EAN number or invoicing e-mail. This may have been deleted when you last changed your invoice information by submitting the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring'. When submitting invoice information via the item "Changes regarding invoicing", it is important that all information is filled in, including those that do not need to be changed, i.e. EAN number, requisition number and invoice contact person and e-mail for invoice receipt.
NB! If both e-mail for invoicing and EAN number are stated, the invoice will be sent to the EAN number.
Why is the requisition number or name missing on my invoice?
This is because we do not have information about your requisition number or the name of the invoice contact person. This may have been deleted when you last changed your invoice details by submitting the web form 'Submit changes regarding dose monitoring'. When submitting invoice information via the item "Changes regarding invoicing", it is important that all information is filled in, including those that do not need to be changed, i.e. EAN number, requisition number and invoice contact person and e-mail for invoice receipt.
NB! If both e-mail for invoicing and EAN number are stated, then the invoice is sent to the EAN number.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my invoice?
Questions regarding invoice payment should be addressed to the Danish Health Authority, Group Accounts (e-mail: kor@sst.dk, Tel: +45 72227400). Questions about the content of an invoice should be addressed to SIS PL (e-mail: pl@sis.dk, Tel: +45 44543456).