Personal dosimetry and TLD badge services across the UAE
Personal dosimetry helps radiation-work organisations monitor occupational exposure, maintain traceable records and identify results that require review. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and other approved personal monitoring devices may be used within a monitoring programme, depending on the work, risk assessment, service provider and applicable regulatory requirements. A badge is not simply an accessory: it must be assigned to the correct person, worn correctly, exchanged or read on the agreed cycle, and linked to a reliable record.
Medcare Hub supports healthcare, dental, veterinary, diagnostic imaging, industrial and research organisations with the coordination and administration of personal dosimetry programmes. The exact service scope should be agreed against the facility’s activities and current FANR requirements. Provider acceptability, device type, monitoring frequency and reporting arrangements must be confirmed for the specific use case; we do not imply that every badge or provider is automatically acceptable for every facility.
Who may need personal monitoring?
Potential users include radiographers, radiologists, dental X-ray staff, veterinary imaging teams, staff involved in fluoroscopy or interventional procedures, industrial radiography workers and other personnel whose work may lead to occupational exposure. Whether a particular worker requires an individual dosimeter, what type is suitable and how it should be worn should be determined through the applicable regulatory requirements and the facility’s radiation protection programme. Not every employee in a building should be assigned the same device by default.
What our dosimetry coordination can include
1. Programme setup and worker register
We help the facility assemble a current worker register and define who owns enrolment, issue, return, exchange, dose-report review and record retention. The register should use consistent identifiers so that results are allocated to the right individual. FANR’s published guidance recommends accurate identification using a worker’s full name and a unique identifier to reduce the risk of misallocation. Personal data should be handled carefully and shared only through suitable, authorised channels.
2. Dosimeter selection and assignment
The appropriate monitoring device depends on the work and exposure pathway. A whole-body badge may be suitable for some roles; additional or different monitoring may be needed for certain tasks or exposure patterns. The wearing position is important, particularly when protective aprons are used. Follow the provider’s written instructions and the facility’s radiation protection programme rather than improvising a position. Where multiple badges are needed, the record should state the purpose and location of each device.
3. Exchange schedules and missed-badge controls
A monitoring programme needs a clear calendar for issuing, returning and reading badges. The facility should know who sends devices to the service provider, how replacements are requested, what happens when a badge is lost or damaged and how a worker is covered during a gap. A missed exchange should be recorded and investigated according to the programme rather than silently ignored. The schedule must follow the agreed provider arrangements and applicable requirements; some situations may require a different frequency from the normal cycle.
4. Dose report review and escalation
Receiving a dose report is only one part of the process. A designated responsible person should review results, identify unusual or unexpected values, check whether the result belongs to the correct worker and document the decision. Where a result requires investigation, the facility should follow its procedures, consult the relevant radiation protection professional and contact the provider as appropriate. A report should not be dismissed or interpreted without considering the worker’s duties, wearing practice, work history and other available information.
5. Records and regulatory reporting support
Facilities should retain assignment records, exchange dates, reports, investigations, corrective actions and evidence of follow-up in a controlled system. FANR’s regulatory guidance describes occupational dose reporting expectations and the use of approved or licensed dosimetry services; the exact current requirements should be verified against the regulation, licence conditions and official instructions that apply to the facility. We can help build a tracker and organise evidence, but the licensee remains responsible for ensuring reports are submitted correctly and on time.
6. Multi-site administration
Healthcare groups and businesses with multiple branches can use a central register for oversight while preserving a separate record for each worker, location and activity. The tracker can highlight new starters, leavers, missing badges, overdue exchanges, unreviewed dose reports and actions awaiting closure. This improves visibility without merging individual records or losing the link between a worker and the site where the exposure occurred.
How the service works
- Scope: identify the regulated activity, workforce, locations and current monitoring arrangements.
- Requirements check: confirm the applicable requirements, accepted provider/service and device options before procurement or enrolment.
- Worker and device register: validate names, unique identifiers, roles, locations and assigned badge references.
- Issue and instruction: document the badge assigned to each person and provide clear written instructions for wearing, storage, return and replacement.
- Exchange and reporting: operate the agreed cycle, log returns and preserve reports.
- Review: route results to the responsible person, record review and investigate values that require follow-up.
- Retention and improvement: retain records and review recurring problems, late returns and programme changes.
Good practice for reliable badge use
Each badge should be used by the assigned person only, kept in the recommended condition and stored away from radiation sources when not being worn, following the service provider’s instructions. A badge should not be shared, left in an exposure area as a proxy for a worker’s dose or intentionally exposed to test the system. If it is lost, damaged, contaminated or accidentally exposed, the worker should notify the designated responsible person promptly and follow the documented procedure. Facilities should provide clear instructions to new staff and repeat them when work practices change.
When protective aprons are worn, dosimeter number and position matter. The correct arrangement depends on the monitoring objective and the applicable programme; some work may call for more than one dosimeter. Do not apply a single wearing rule to every situation. For extremity exposures, such as certain work involving hands close to sources, an extremity dosimeter may need to be considered by the responsible radiation protection professional. The facility should follow current regulatory guidance and the provider’s validated instructions.
Which organisations can benefit?
- Hospitals and diagnostic centres: staff working with radiography, CT, fluoroscopy or other relevant modalities.
- Dental practices: staff whose work and risk assessment call for personal monitoring.
- Veterinary clinics: teams performing animal radiography and related imaging tasks.
- Industrial operators: personnel involved in applicable industrial radiography or other regulated radiation work.
- Universities and laboratories: research personnel whose activities fall within the monitoring programme.
- Multi-branch groups: organisations needing consistent badge assignment and reporting controls across multiple sites.
Seven-city coverage across the UAE
Medcare Hub coordinates enquiries from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Al Ain can be handled through Abu Dhabi-area coordination. The practical arrangements, collection or delivery method, service availability and any on-site requirements should be confirmed for each engagement. A location page does not itself establish that a provider is approved for a particular regulated activity; confirm provider acceptability with FANR before relying on a service for regulatory compliance.
Information to prepare
- Facility name, location and regulated activity.
- Number of monitored workers and their job roles.
- Current provider and device type, if already in place.
- Current exchange frequency and latest available dose reports.
- Licence conditions or relevant monitoring-programme requirements.
- Names and unique identifiers needed for accurate assignment, shared securely.
- Any missing badges, unusual results or unresolved investigations.
- Required start date, renewal date or operational deadline.
Dosimetry and TLD badge services by UAE location
Choose a location to review the local service workflow, monitoring records and coordination information.
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Abu Dhabi
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Dubai
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Sharjah
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Ajman
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Ras Al Khaimah
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Fujairah
- Dosimetry and TLD badge services in Umm Al Quwain
Frequently asked questions
What is a TLD badge?
A thermoluminescent dosimeter is a personal monitoring device that uses a material whose light output after controlled heating is related to radiation exposure. The provider’s validated process is used to read and report the result.
How often should badges be read?
The cycle depends on applicable requirements, work circumstances and the provider’s programme. FANR guidance has described monthly readings as common and quarterly readings as acceptable in some low-dose situations. Confirm the current rule and the facility-specific arrangement before setting the schedule.
Can one badge be shared between workers?
No. Personal dosimeters should be individually assigned and the record should preserve the connection between the worker and the result.
Does Medcare Hub issue the regulatory dose record?
We support programme coordination and documentation. The monitoring provider’s report and the licensee’s regulatory duties remain distinct; responsibilities should be confirmed in the agreed scope.
What should happen after an unexpected result?
Follow the facility’s investigation procedure, confirm the identity and wearing history, contact the service provider and consult the responsible radiation protection professional as required. Document the conclusion and corrective actions.
Is a badge service automatically acceptable to FANR?
No. Provider acceptance and regulatory requirements must be verified for the particular activity. Confirm the service provider’s acceptability directly with FANR before relying on it for compliance.
Request a personal dosimetry programme review
Tell us the facility type, emirate, number of workers, radiation activities and current badge arrangements. Medcare Hub can help define a practical scope for worker registration, exchange tracking, dose report review and controlled recordkeeping. Technical and regulatory decisions should be made against current FANR requirements and the facility’s licence conditions.
Official reference: FANR services · FANR Regulatory Guide 007 — Radiation Safety.