A newly hired radiographer declares a pregnancy at 2 months, wears a single waist badge under the apron, and floats between radiography and mobile fluoroscopy. Which dosimeter use and dose-limit guidance correctly follows personnel and embryo-fetus protection principles?

Declared pregnancy at two months triggers dedicated embryo-fetus protection: a second personal dosimeter at waist level under the apron to approximate shielded uterine dose, application of the much lower gestation-period limit rather than the adult occupational limit, and monthly review to detect trends and modify duties promptly, which matters when floating between radiography and mobile fluoroscopy with variable scatter. Retaining correct fetal placement and monthly review but evaluating against the annual adult occupational whole-body limit fails by limit concept because it allows an order of magnitude more dose and delays intervention for the fetus. Retaining correct placement and fetal limit but using quarterly review fails by surveillance concept because declared-pregnancy programs require monthly readout to compare against the monthly-equivalent rate and correct assignments before the gestation limit is approached. Placing the fetal dosimeter at the collar outside the apron while retaining the fetal limit and monthly review fails by geometry-shielding concept because the unshielded neck measurement overestimates abdominal dose behind lead and mixes maternal head-thyroid exposure used for effective-dose calculation with the fetal record. Exam caveat is to distinguish maternal dual-dosimetry effective dose from the separate under-apron fetal record and remember the fetal limit applies from declaration to delivery. Practical check is to label and log the waist-under-apron badge, ensure it stays under lead at the abdomen, exchange monthly, and counsel and document separately.