What is a frisker?

• A. A type of contamination
• B. A unit of measure
• C. A body monitor
• D. A device used to measure radioactive contamination

Answer: (D)

A frisker is a handheld radiation detector used to detect and gauge surface contamination on skin, clothing, or objects. It’s the quick-check tool you use to see if radioactive material is present after handling materials or after moving through controlled areas. The device picks up radiation with its detector and gives a reading—often in counts per minute or disintegrations per minute—so you can decide if decontamination is needed. It’s focused on surface checks, not measuring internal dose, and it’s not a unit of measurement or a whole-body monitoring device. A body monitor, by contrast, is designed to assess contamination on or inside the whole body, usually in a scan or belt-type monitor.