Lesson 2/Learning Event 7
Radiation exposure should be controlled to the maximum extent possible consistent with the mission.
On occasion, this may tend to restrict operations, but if exposure control is ignored, the results could be
disastrous. The establishment and use of Operation Exposure Guides will aid the commander in keeping
radiation exposures at a minimum and thus assist in accomplishment of the assigned mission.
Operation Exposure Guide
The commander responsible for the radiological survey, with assistance from the NBCE, will establish
an Operation Exposure Guide for the survey party. The operation exposure guide is determined based
on the previous radiation exposure of survey personnel and the degree of risk which the commander is
willing to accept.
Radiation Exposure Status
Effective use of radiation exposure records permits rapid determination of a unit's potential to operate in
a radiologically contaminated area. Radiation dose criteria are established in four categories: Radiation
Status-0 (RS-0); Radiation Status-1 (RS-1); Radiation Status-2 (RS-2); and Radiation Status-3 (RS-3).
These criteria, which are based on the best available estimates on predicting the effects of radiation
exposure, are given in figure 17 on page 64. The four radiation status categories are defined below.
Radiation Status-0 (RS-0). RS-0 applies to a unit that has never been exposed to nuclear radiation - a
unit which has received no dose.
Radiation Status-1 (RS-1). RS-1 applies to a unit that has been exposed to nuclear radiation - a unit
which has received a dose greater than 0 but less than, or equal to, 70 cGy(rad).
Radiation Status-2 (RS-2). RS-2 applies to a unit that has received a significant but not dangerous dose
of radiation - a unit which has received a dose greater than 70 cGy(rad) but less than, or equal to, 150
cGy(rad). If the situation permits, units in this category should be exposed less frequently and to smaller
doses than the units in RS-1 and RS-0 categories.
Radiation Status-3 (RS-3). RS-3 applies to a unit that has already received a dose of radiation greater
than 150 cGy(rad), which makes further exposure dangerous. In other words, this unit should be
exposed only if the exposure is unavoidable, because additional exposure in the immediate future would
result in sickness and probably some deaths.
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