ASNT Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Practice Test

How long must leak test records be kept?

1. One year

2. Three years

3. Five years

4. Indefinitely

The correct answer is: Three years

Leak test records must be maintained for at least three years. This requirement is established by regulatory guidelines to ensure that adequate records of radioactive material containment and safety assessments are available for review. Keeping these records for three years allows regulatory bodies to verify compliance with safety practices and confirms that leak tests were conducted regularly to prevent exposure or contamination. A shorter retention period, such as one year, would not provide a sufficient historical record for monitoring compliance or identifying potential trends in leak test results. Retaining records indefinitely may seem thorough, but it is not typically mandated; however, it can be a best practice in certain situations, particularly for very sensitive or high-risk environments. Five years is also longer than what is usually required, as it exceeds the minimum prescribed time and could add unnecessary administrative burden. Thus, three years strikes a balance between maintaining adequate safety documentation and effective record management.