ALARA is primarily focused on what safety aspect?

• A. ALARA is optional for all units
• B. ALARA is primarily focused on minimizing personnel exposures
• C. ALARA concerns only equipment maintenance cost
• D. ALARA is unrelated to safety

Answer: (B)

ALARA means keeping radiation doses As Low As Reasonably Achievable. The core idea is to protect people by minimizing exposures through good engineering and work practices: using shielding, maintaining distance, and limiting time in radiation areas, along with administrative controls and appropriate PPE. While the “reasonable” part includes balancing costs and practicality, the central goal is to reduce doses to personnel (and the public) as much as can be justified, making it a fundamental safety requirement rather than an optional or unrelated concept.