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Radiation Protection: Ensuring Safety in Radiography

Learn the importance of minimizing radiation exposure in radiography, follow ALARA rules, use shielding, monitor exposure limits, and protect patients and staff. Understand the cardinal rules of radiation protection to maintain a safe working environment.

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Radiation Protection: Ensuring Safety in Radiography

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  1. Week 2 :Radiation Protection RTEC 111 Bushong Ch 1 & 38

  2. Do I have your attention?

  3. Why are x-rays harmful?

  4. Reduction of Occupational Radiation Exposure • Radiography as a profession is very safe .. if you follow the ALARA rules • Most technologist exposure occurs from fluoroscopy exams and mobile exams • During all fluoroscopy and mobile exams technologists should wear a protective apron • The primary beam should never be pointed at the tech or other staff… primary at the patient!

  5. ALARA • ALWAYS KEEP RADIATION EXPOSURES AS LOW AS REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE • Can you think of ways to do this?

  6. CARDINAL RULESOF RADIATION PROTECTION • Time • Distance • Shielding

  7. TIME • The exposure is to be kept as short as possible because the exposure is directly proportional to time. • 20 mrem = 2min • 10 mrem = 1min

  8. DISTANCE • Distance from the radiation source should be kept as great as possible • Physical Law: • Inverse Square Law

  9. INTENSITY IS SPREAD OUT…

  10. Position • When primary beam is on.. Your distance should be kept as great as possible • The dead man foot or hand switch should be used sparingly • The closer you are to the patient or primary beam the more exposure you are receiving.

  11. Holding patients • ECC policy: • STUDENT RADIOGRAPHERS ARE NOT PERMITED TO HOLD PATIENTS FOR PROPER POSITIONING DURING EXPOSURES • Mechanical devices should be used

  12. Immobilization

  13. Holding patients • Otherwise, a relative or friend accompanying the patient should be asked to help • Occasionally, other hospital employees such as nurses and orderlies may be asked to help • Radiology staff should never hold patients

  14. If holding a patient is required… • Use shielding • Apron, gloves, thyroid shield, glasses • Avoid exposing assisting person to the primary beam.

  15. SHIELDING • A lead protective shield is placed between the x-ray tube and the individuals exposed, absorbing unnecessary radiation

  16. Primary Barriers

  17. SHIELDING TECHNOLOGIST . 25 mm LEAD • LEAD APRON, GLOVES • THYROID SHIELD, GLASSES PATIENT – GONAD SHEILDING . 5 mm LEAD

  18. GONAD SHIELDING • MUST BE . 5 MM OF LEAD • MUST BE USED WHEN GONADS WILL LIE WITHING 5 CM OF THE COLLIMATED AREA (RHB) • KUB. Lumbar Spine Pelvis • male vs female shielding

  19. TYPES OF SHIELDING • Flat or contact • Shaped • Shadow

  20. Flat/Contact

  21. Shadow Shield

  22. Your first exam! 2V CXR • A wrap-around apron would be better • Why?

  23. Minimizing radiation exposure • Is easy the equipment is designed to !! • Filtration • Intensifying screens • Protective barriers • Mechanical restraining devices

  24. Filtration REDUCES PATIENT EXPOSURES • REMOVES LOW ENERGY PHOTONS

  25. Minimizing radiation exposure • Is easy when technologist and student technologist are informed! • Collimation • Protective apparel/Gonadal shielding

  26. Permissible Occupational Dose • Annual dose: • 5 rem / year 50 mSv / year • Cumulative Dose • 1rem x age 10mSv X age

  27. Occupational DoseANNUAL LIMITS • WHOLE BODY = 5 rem / 5000 mRem • LENS OF THE EYE = 15 rem • EXTREMITIES = 50 rem

  28. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES • 5 rem / YEAR BUT NOT TO EXCEED 1.25 rem/QUARTER • OLD “MPD 5(Age – 18)”

  29. PUBLIC EXPOSURE • 10 % OF OCCUPATIONAL • (MUST BE MONITORED IF ABOVE 10%) • NON MEDICAL EXPOSURE • .1 rem OR 100 mrem OR 1 mSv (Freq) • .5 rem OR 500 mrem OR 5 mSv (Infreq) • UNDER AGE 18 & STUDENTS • .1 rem OR 1 mSv

  30. Personnel Monitoring Devices • Film Badges • TLD / OSL • Pocket Dosimeter • Ring Badge

  31. Occupational radiation monitor does NOT protect against radiation exposure!

  32. Occupational radiation monitor • Should be a life time dose record • Should NOT be worn when YOU are the patient • Should be left at the hospital for safe keeping • Should be stored in a radiation free area

  33. Pregnancy & Embryo Mother – occupational worker (5 rem) • Baby – (500 mrem) • .5 rem/ year .05 rem/month • 5 mSv .5 mSv / month

  34. Declared Pregnant Worker • Must declare pregnancy – 2 badges provided • 1 worn at collar (Mother’s exposure) • 1 worn inside apron at waist level Under 5 rad – negligible risk Risk increases above 15 rad Recommend abortion (spontaneous) 25 rad

  35. Fetal Exposure • (“Baby exposure” approx 1/1000 of ESE) • ALWAYS ASK LMP before exposure made … any females that could be exposed to primary or scatter

  36. Reduction of unnecessary patient dose • Unnecessary exam • If the order is unclear…clarify • If the order is wrong.. Fix it • Repeat exams

  37. Patient Positioning • When ever possible primary exposure to the gonads, breasts, lenses of the eyes and thyroid should be avoided. • Especially female patients… perform exams PA as apposed to AP • PA = posterior anterior • AP = anterior posterior

  38. I don’t think so…..

  39. That’s all folks….Questions?

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