In order to reduce a technologist's occupational dose during a portable radiograph of the chest, the technologist should:

• A. Stand several feet away from the patient during the exposure
• B. Stand in line with the beam
• C. Increase exposure time
• D. Increase distance by adjusting tube position only

Answer: (A)

Maximizing distance from the x‑ray source is the most effective way to lower occupational dose. The inverse square law tells us that radiation exposure drops rapidly as distance increases, and for portable chest exams, stepping back several feet places you outside much of the scatter produced by the patient and out of the primary beam’s path. Sticking in line with the beam would put you in the path of primary radiation or higher scatter, which increases dose. Simply increasing exposure time would raise, not reduce, dose. Adjusting the tube to gain distance may help a little, but it doesn’t provide as reliable a reduction as moving farther away and using shielding. So, standing several feet away during the exposure best protects the technologist.