Which method is NOT effective for keeping beta dose low while handling high-energy beta emitters?

Minimizing distance from the source is not an effective method for keeping beta dose low when handling high-energy beta emitters. In radiation safety, the inverse square law is a principle that describes how radiation intensity decreases with increased distance from the source. However, for high-energy beta emitters, beta particles have limited penetration abilities and can travel significant distances through air, especially if they have high energy. Furthermore, being too close to a high-energy beta source increases the likelihood of exposure, which contradicts the objective of reducing dose.

Using tongs when feasible helps keep the worker's hands away from the source, reducing the risk of contamination and direct exposure. Plexiglas shielding is effective because it can attenuate beta particles and protect the handler from radiation. Thick-walled containers provide additional containment and limit exposure by preventing beta particles from escaping. Thus, maintaining distance from the source is counterproductive to radiation safety practices in the context of high-energy beta emitters.