What is a Radiation Area?

• A. Accessible area in which the dose rate is negligible
• B. Accessible area in which a person could receive a whole body dose greater than 5 mrem in one hour at 30 cm from the source
• C. An area used for storage of equipment
• D. An area where only non-radiological work is conducted

Answer: (B)

A Radiation Area is defined by the potential exposure level, not by what is stored or the activity taking place. Specifically, it’s an accessible area where the dose rate could deliver more than 5 mrem of whole-body exposure in one hour at a distance of 30 cm from the source. This threshold, used in regulations, identifies areas where access must be controlled to protect people from meaningful radiation exposure.

So, the correct statement describes an area where the potential whole-body dose rate exceeds 5 mrem per hour at 30 cm from the source. Areas with negligible dose rates, storage areas, or areas where only non-radiological work occurs do not meet this definition.