Radiation Safety

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2009 Mandatory Education
Radiation Safety
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Table of Contents
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able
to
Discuss ALARA Describe Sources of
Radiation Distinguish between Primary and
Secondary Radiation Discuss general Safety
Measures Name the Radiation Safety OfficerThe
Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that every
Associate who works in a building housing nuclear
isotopes know the name of the Radiation Safety
Officer.
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ALARA
The major goal of the radiation protection
program is to keep doses As Low As Reasonably
Achievable. MediCorp Health System actively
follows this government standard which sets
exposure limits to As Low As Reasonably
Achievable. Radiation education and safe
radiation practices help to keep our exposure
levels low.
ALARA
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Sources of Ionizing Radiation

• There are several sources of ionizing radiation
  in a hospital.
• The following are NOT sources of ionizing
  radiation
• microwave ovens
• x-ray machines that are turned off
• teletherapy patients (A medical treatment
  involving a radioactive source.)
• nuclear medicine department equipment

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Sources of Ionizing Radiation

• Be aware of an x-ray unit
• when the beam is being produced
• when an x-ray is being taken

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Sources of Ionizing Radiation

• Watch for other potential sources of ionizing
  radiation including radioactive materials that
  may be
• injected
• Inhaled
• ingested for particular studies

Radioactive materials applied in this manner may
be used to locate a tumor or assess organ
function. These radio-pharmaceuticals or
radioactive drugs are a source of ionizing
radiation. Careful control is exercised for the
small amounts of radioactive tracers used in some
laboratories.
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Primary and Secondary Radiation
The field of light projected ONTO the patient
represents the PRIMARY radiation beam. SECONDARY
radiation is the ionizing radiation that
bounces off the patient and into the room.
Associates in the room while an x-ray is being
taken can be exposed to SECONDARY radiation.
Appropriate safety measures must always be
followed.
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General Safety Measures
General safety measures in radiation protection
involve
Time Distance Shielding
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Time
Time of exposure to ionizing radiation will
always be kept to a minimum.
When you decrease the dose rate, the total dose
has a corresponding decrease.
TOTAL DOSE DOSE RATE x TIME
Dose Rate The amount of radiation exposure over
a certain TIME frame.
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Distance and Shielding
Two techniques for reducing dose rate
are Distance Shielding Maximizing the distance
between the source and the worker decreases
exposure significantly.
72 inches (6 feet) is the (minimum) safest
distance to stand from any x-ray beam.
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Distance and Shielding
Adequate shielding prevents radiation from
reaching a worker. Modern x-ray tubes cannot be
seen because of shielding. The x-ray beam is
limited only to the portion of the patient's body
that is to be x-rayed. Typical radiation
exposures to diagnostic x-ray technologists are
fairly low.
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Distance and Shielding
Since x-ray technologists perform many portable
x-rays, in the performance of their jobs, they
are not permitted to hold patients for x-rays. If
a patient needs assistance to stay in the correct
position, the x-ray technologist will ask someone
in the area to assist them. If you are asked to
hold, you will receive a very small exposure.
Wearing a lead apron will further reduce this
exposure.
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Additional Precautions
Physicians, nurses, and technologists involved in
special procedures (such as cardiac
catherization) work in close proximity to a
continually operating x-ray tube. They wear
protective aprons and portable shields to reduce
exposure 30 to 100 fold. Because these employees
wear a dosimeter outside their protective
clothes, their recorded occupational doses are
usually the highest among hospital employees.
Dosimeter A personal monitoring device used to
measure radiation exposure. It is usually worn
as a badge and analyzed monthly.
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Whos Responsibility Is It?
Management is committed to keeping radiation
exposure as low as reasonably achievable.
(ALARA) Every employee should be aware that he
has a responsibility to keep radiation exposure
under control.

• Employees should
• have a basic understanding of ionizing radiation
  both within the facility and in their work
  area
• understand the occupational dose received.

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Radiation Safety Officer/MWH
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that
every Associate who works in a building housing
nuclear isotopes know the name of the Radiation
Safety Officer. Linda Prowett is the
Radiation Safety Officer for MWH. She can be
contacted at x11580 or, after hours, by
contacting the MWH Department of Radiology.
Wendy Charlton is the Radiation Safety Officer
for SHC. She may be contacted by phoning the SHC
Radiology Department at x19150.
If the Radiation Safety Officer is unavailable,
contact the Nuclear Medicine technologist on-call.
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Licensure
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and
Virginia State License are posted in the Division
of Nuclear Medicine in the Department of
Radiology. The Radiation Safety Program is
available in all areas of MWH and SHC that use
radiation producing equipment.
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Fun Facts about Radiation
For Your Information The average hospital
radiation worker in the United States receives
approximately 140 mRems of radiation per
year. The average person living in the U.S.
receives twice that amount from natural
background sources. Occupational exposures in
radiation workers do occur, but the occupational
dose is less than half the amount received from
natural background sources. It is also less than
half the amount received by aircraft crew members
on a commercial airliner each year due to the
increased cosmic rays at higher altitudes.
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Summary
Working with ionizing radiation in a hospital is
not a health hazard if employees are careful and
follow proper procedures. Remember the goal of
the radiation protection program ALARA As Low
As Reasonably Achievable Be aware of radiation
sources. Know and follow proper radiation
protection procedures. For more information
about radiation protection, see your Radiation
Safety Officer.
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Would you like to review?
Click on the questions below

• Do you know what ALARA stands for?
• Do you know the difference between Primary and
  Secondary radiation?
• Do you know the 3 general safety measures?
• Do you know who the Radiation Safety Officer in
  your facility and how to contact her?

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Resources

• Linda Prowett, MWH Radiation Safety
  Officer x11580
• Wendy Charlton, SHC Radiation Safety Officer
  x19150
• Policy and Procedures Databases
• Radiation Protection Program (located in SHC
  MWH Policies and Procedure Database)
• Radiation Protection from Ionizing Radiation
  (located in MHS Corporate Policies Procedures
  Database)

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Exit Page
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We hope this Computer Based Learning course has
been informative and helpful. Please feel free
to review the screens of this course until you
are prepared to test your knowledge.
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ALARA
Return to Course
The major goal of the radiation protection
program is to keep doses As Low As Reasonably
Achievable.
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Primary and Secondary Radiation
Return to Course
The field of light projected ONTO the patient
represents the PRIMARY radiation beam. SECONDARY
radiation is the ionizing radiation that
bounces off the patient and into the room.
Associates in the room while an x-ray is being
taken can be exposed to SECONDARY radiation.
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3 Safety Measures
Return to Course
General safety measures in radiation protection
involve time distance shielding
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Radiation Safety Officers
Return to Course
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that
every Associate who works in a building housing
nuclear isotopes know the name of the Radiation
Safety Officer. Linda Prowett is the
Radiation Safety Officer for MWH. She can be
contacted at x11580 or, after hours, by
contacting the MWH Department of Radiology.
Wendy Charlton is the Radiation Safety Officer
for SHC . She may be contacted by phoning the SHC
Radiology Department at x19150.