Radiologic technologists and other healthcare workers are exposed to X-rays in the course of their work duties. There are certain occupational radiation exposure limits for X-ray techs. Remaining within these limits is essential for safety in the workplace. Read on to refresh your knowledge on the key safety limits with regards to occupational radiation exposure.
Several types of radiation protection clothes are available to X-ray techs. The use of these garments protects radiologic technologists from exposure to scatter radiation. However, some imaging modalities are associated with a very low exposure to occupational radiation exposure. Radiologic technologists performing these examinations may not require special radiation protection clothes.
It is estimated that approximately 1 million people employed in health facilities around the world are exposed to radiation in the course of their work duties. This makes the radiation safety of healthcare workers an important consideration. The International Labor Organization regards any exposure to ionizing radiation received at the workplace as occupational exposure. A healthcare worker’s total radiation exposure also includes natural background exposure received during working hours. However, since the latter is a consequence of living on Planet Earth and occurs regardless of occupation, it is not the responsibility of the employer and is not subject to regulatory controls.
We discovered this video series and thought it might be of interest to this community. There is no CE credit for this series, but it is useful for reference.
Since the beginning of life on Earth, radiation has been a constant environmental factor affecting all living organisms. However, the general public is often not fully informed about the different sources of radiation that exist around us, encompassing both naturally occurring and artificially created types. It is estimated that approximately 50 percent of the radiation to which humans are exposed comes from natural sources such as cosmic rays, radon gas, and terrestrial radiation. The other 50 percent results from man-made sources, including medical procedures, industrial applications, and nuclear power production. This article delves into the wide range of radiation sources, highlighting their roles and impacts on our daily lives.
A worker manages a plutonium button. Historically, plutonium was viewed as a rare, primarily man-made element. In contemporary practices, remnants from its initial manufacturing processes, as well as plutonium reclaimed from dismantled nuclear arsenals, undergo a sophisticated reprocessing. This repurposing transforms these materials into high-quality plutonium metal, underscoring its sustained importance and utility in various applications.
On December 2, 2013, a commercial truck containing a dismantled radiation treatment device was stolen in Mexico. The device contained a significant amount of the radioactive material Cobalt 60. A few days later, the device was recovered. At least 6 people were evaluated for radiation exposure, but it was reported that all tests were negative, indicating that the radioactive material was not released. It appears that a very dangerous radiation disaster was avoided.
When radiological disasters happen, the victims end up where radiologic technologists work, in the hospital. They may be contaminated with radioactive dust or shrapnel in their bodies and on their clothing. As a radiologic technologist, even though you mainly work with X-rays on a day-to-day basis, the other hospital staff and public will have a reasonable expectation that you will have a better understanding than most about how to deal with a radiation disaster safely.