Occupational Pregnant Worker Radiation Information

Last Revised: July 11, 2025

As an occupational pregnant worker, you have the option to declare your pregnancy for radiation safety purposes. Essentially, declaring allows us to drop your annual radiation dose limit from 5,000 mrem (50 mSv) to 500 mrem (5 mSv) over the entire pregnancy. It can be a confidential process – we communicate directly with you and are not required to share any information with your supervisor, OccMed, etc. The written declaration can be submitted at any point during the pregnancy, and if you choose to submit the declaration, any necessary changes to your work practices will be discussed with your supervisor, if required. The written declaration can also be rescinded at any point should you choose to do so. This is a completely voluntary process, so you have the right to forgo the declaration.

Any occupationally exposed pregnant worker can receive counseling and declare their pregnancy if they choose to do so. This includes workers at Penn, Penn Medicine, CHOP, the Wistar Institute, and satellite locations. Radiation Safety will provide information on dose reduction methods.

Below are some resources and additional information.

If you have any questions or concerns at any point pre-conception or post-conception, please feel free to reach out to our staff.

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What do I need to know as a pregnant worker?

Basic Pregnant Worker Resources

The declaration process is completely voluntary and can remain confidential, if requested, but must be in writing.
Your dose limit during your pregnancy is 500 mrem (5 mSv) if your pregnancy is declared in writing. For reference, your occupational dose limit is 5,000 mrem (50 mSv) if you do not declare or are not pregnant.
How do I know what dose I have received in the past? Your dosimeter results are accessible at any time. Please see the instructions on how to access your dosimeter results here.
How to correctly wear your dosimeters
Please let us know if you are or will be employed anywhere besides Penn or CHOP during your pregnancy.
Per the regulations, we are not required to supply an additional fetal dosimeter unless you are likely to receive 100 mrem (1 mSv) during your pregnancy. We can frequently monitor your dose using your existing dosimeter. An additional fetal dosimeter is usually unnecessary.
- If a fetal dosimeter is required, the dosimeter will be exchanged on a monthly basis.
NRC Regulatory Guide 8.13, “Instruction Concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure”
Instadose website (for those with a USB dosimeter) - to read your USB device