How can we prevent radiation hazards?
You can work safely around radiation and/or contamination by following a few simple precautions:
- Use time, distance, shielding and containment to reduce exposure.
- Wear dosimeters (e.g., film or TLD badges) if issued.
- Avoid contact with the contamination.
- Wear protective clothing that, if contaminated, can be removed.
What are radiation hazards and protection against it?
Radiation Protection: Ionizing radiation is widely used in industry and medicine, and can present a significant health hazard by causing microscopic damage to living tissue. Fundamental to radiation protection is the avoidance or reduction of dose using the simple protective measures of time, distance and shielding.
What are the 3 principles of protection from radiation?
ALARA stands for “as low as reasonably achievable”. This principle means that even if it is a small dose, if receiving that dose has no direct benefit, you should try to avoid it. To do this, you can use three basic protective measures in radiation safety: time, distance, and shielding.
How do nurses protect themselves from radiation?
Shield Yourself from Radiation Wear a lead apron, where provided. If your hands may be in the x-ray beam, wear lead gloves unless doing so would compromise patient care. Use lead shields when available. In diagnostic nuclear medicine and radionuclide therapy, a lead apron is not effective.
What are the hazards due to radiation?
Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast, can cause acute health effects such as skin burns and acute radiation syndrome (“radiation sickness”). It can also result in long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
What are the hazards of radiation?
What material can block radiation?
Materials that block gamma radiation:
- Lead aprons and blankets (high density materials or low density materials with increased thickness)
- Lead sheets, foils, plates, slabs, pipes, tubing, bricks, and glass.
- Lead-Polyethylene-Boron Composites.
- Lead sleeves.
- Lead shot.
- Lead walls.
- Lead putties and epoxies.
What are the basic principles of radiation protection?
General principles of radiation protection from the hazard of ionizing radiation are summarized as three key words; justification, optimization, and dose limit. Because medical exposure of radiation has unique considerations, diagnostic reference level is generally used as a reference value, instead of dose limits.
What are common sources of radiation?
Radiation Sources and Doses
- Sources of radiation.
- Background radiation.
- Uranium and thorium naturally found in the earth are called primordial.
- All of us are exposed to radiation every day, from natural sources such as minerals in the ground, and man-made sources such as medical x-rays.
Why do we need to protect healthcare workers from radiation?
We know, according to OSHA, that the degree of exposure depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of radiation, the duration of exposure, the distance from the source and the type of shielding in place. That’s why these protection measures are recommended to limit healthcare workers’ radiation exposure:
What do you need to know about radiation exposure?
Quiz questions on radiation exposure, protection, and the OSHA Ionizing Radiation standards. While everyone is exposed to natural background radiation, workers may also be exposed to ionizing radiation in workplaces with radiation sources. These radiation sources can pose a health risk to workers if not properly controlled.
What is the role of a radiation safety officer?
The Radiation Safety Officer is responsible for managing the radiation safety program subject to the approval of the Administrative Panel on Radiological Safety, and is authorized to take whatever steps are necessary to control and mitigate hazards in emergency situations.
Where can I find information on Radiation Safety?
Consult with the Radiation Safety Officer at (650) 723-3201 for specific information. Because health physics supports the uses of ionizing radiation it is helpful to discuss the reasons why this type of radiation is important.