Generic Radiation Worker Training
Generic Radiation Worker Training
(GRWT) Exam 90 Questions With Correct
Answers
Alpha Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Least penetrating ability of the 4 types; travels
approximately 1 inch in air
Shielded by: A piece of paper, lightweight clothing, or outer layer of skin
Type Hazard: Internal hazard - can result in a high dose to sensitive organs
Major Source: Nuclear Fuel
Beta Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Travels a few feet in the air
Shielded by: Lightweight plastic or aluminum
Type Hazard: Eyes and skin are most susceptible to beta radiation. It can be an internal hazard
Major Source: Most beta particles come from activated corrosion and fission products
Additional Info: Personnel must work close to a beta source to receive much dose
Gamma Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Very high, penetrates the whole body
Shielded by: Very dense material; usually lead and steel
Type Hazard: Whole body dose hazard
Major Source: Fission, fission products, and activation products in the primary system piping
Additional info: Has no mass or electrical charge - it is pure energy
Neutron Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Very high
Shielded by: Water, paraffin, or concrete
Type Hazard: whole body dose hazard
Major Source: Mainly a problem only near the reactor in operation
Additional Info: Neutrons are freed from the nucleus by decay or fission and have no electrical
charge
Define TEDE - ANSWER ✔ - Total Effective Dose Equivalent. This is the total of a person's external dose
and internal dose
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, Generic Radiation Worker Training
Define External Dose - ANSWER ✔ - Comes from radiation sources located outside the body. The
entire body, inside and out, receives the dose. Most of the dose received by nuclear workers is
external
Define Internal Dose - ANSWER ✔ - Comes from radioactive material deposited inside the body. The
majority of this dose is to the organ(s) where the radioactive material is deposited. This normally
occurs if a person gets radioactive material inside the body by breathing it in or swallowing it.
When is the highest risk to a cell? - ANSWER ✔ - The highest risk to a cell from radiation exposure is
during cell division
Define Chronic Radiation Exposure - ANSWER ✔ - A series of small doses spread out over a long period
such as months or years
Define Acute Radiation Exposure - ANSWER ✔ - A large dose received in a short period, usually less
than 24 hours. During normal nuclear power plant activities, workers should not be exposed to
sources of radiation that will result in acute exposure.
Define Somatic Effects of radiation exposure - ANSWER ✔ - Occur in JUST the individual who has
received the radiation dose. Somatic simply means "something affecting the whole body." Any cell
damage would be to the cells of the person exposed to the radiation.
How are Somatic Effects manifested? - ANSWER ✔ - Prompt Effects and Delayed Effects
Define Prompt Effects - ANSWER ✔ - Observed as the result of a large acute dose usually shortly after
the exposure. Nuclear workers do not receive radiation level this high.
Define Delayed Effects - ANSWER ✔ - Occur months or years after exposure and may result from acute
or chronic radiation exposure. EX: Cancer, cataracts. The delay in time creates a problem in linking
exposure w/ the outcome.
Define Genetic Effects of radiation exposure - ANSWER ✔ - Appear in future children of an individual
who received the dose. The chances of their occurring are very small even with radiation exposure
much higher than that experienced by nuclear workers.
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Generic Radiation Worker Training
(GRWT) Exam 90 Questions With Correct
Answers
Alpha Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Least penetrating ability of the 4 types; travels
approximately 1 inch in air
Shielded by: A piece of paper, lightweight clothing, or outer layer of skin
Type Hazard: Internal hazard - can result in a high dose to sensitive organs
Major Source: Nuclear Fuel
Beta Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Travels a few feet in the air
Shielded by: Lightweight plastic or aluminum
Type Hazard: Eyes and skin are most susceptible to beta radiation. It can be an internal hazard
Major Source: Most beta particles come from activated corrosion and fission products
Additional Info: Personnel must work close to a beta source to receive much dose
Gamma Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Very high, penetrates the whole body
Shielded by: Very dense material; usually lead and steel
Type Hazard: Whole body dose hazard
Major Source: Fission, fission products, and activation products in the primary system piping
Additional info: Has no mass or electrical charge - it is pure energy
Neutron Radiation - ANSWER ✔ - Penetrating Ability: Very high
Shielded by: Water, paraffin, or concrete
Type Hazard: whole body dose hazard
Major Source: Mainly a problem only near the reactor in operation
Additional Info: Neutrons are freed from the nucleus by decay or fission and have no electrical
charge
Define TEDE - ANSWER ✔ - Total Effective Dose Equivalent. This is the total of a person's external dose
and internal dose
1|P A G E
, Generic Radiation Worker Training
Define External Dose - ANSWER ✔ - Comes from radiation sources located outside the body. The
entire body, inside and out, receives the dose. Most of the dose received by nuclear workers is
external
Define Internal Dose - ANSWER ✔ - Comes from radioactive material deposited inside the body. The
majority of this dose is to the organ(s) where the radioactive material is deposited. This normally
occurs if a person gets radioactive material inside the body by breathing it in or swallowing it.
When is the highest risk to a cell? - ANSWER ✔ - The highest risk to a cell from radiation exposure is
during cell division
Define Chronic Radiation Exposure - ANSWER ✔ - A series of small doses spread out over a long period
such as months or years
Define Acute Radiation Exposure - ANSWER ✔ - A large dose received in a short period, usually less
than 24 hours. During normal nuclear power plant activities, workers should not be exposed to
sources of radiation that will result in acute exposure.
Define Somatic Effects of radiation exposure - ANSWER ✔ - Occur in JUST the individual who has
received the radiation dose. Somatic simply means "something affecting the whole body." Any cell
damage would be to the cells of the person exposed to the radiation.
How are Somatic Effects manifested? - ANSWER ✔ - Prompt Effects and Delayed Effects
Define Prompt Effects - ANSWER ✔ - Observed as the result of a large acute dose usually shortly after
the exposure. Nuclear workers do not receive radiation level this high.
Define Delayed Effects - ANSWER ✔ - Occur months or years after exposure and may result from acute
or chronic radiation exposure. EX: Cancer, cataracts. The delay in time creates a problem in linking
exposure w/ the outcome.
Define Genetic Effects of radiation exposure - ANSWER ✔ - Appear in future children of an individual
who received the dose. The chances of their occurring are very small even with radiation exposure
much higher than that experienced by nuclear workers.
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