Question

What are a few concerns of healthcare professionals with radiation safety? Discuss them.

Examples include:

• Qualifications of personel operating equiptment- should they be licensed?
• Multiple exams (elective vs necessary)
• Repeat Exams
• Exams performed on pregnant patients/ children
• Dose limits and reporting

Answer 1

The WHO has classified radiation as CARCINOGEN. Radiation potentially leading to a variety of health issues, from cataract & hair loss to birth defects & development of cancer.

Here are the fewer concerns of healthcare providers with radiation safety.

1. Dose reduction is important because radiation scatter from the patient causes the most exposure to workers
2. Shielding is again important. It includes:

• Personal: Aprons with thyroid sheild, leaded glass
• Equipment: mounted, protective drapes
• Rolling & Stationery shields
• Disposable patient drapes to prevent scatter radiation
• Architectural shielding

​​​​​​​3. Equipment related safety: technologists should make full use of radiation reduction features built into the equipment.

4. Operators should learn how to use & position the system around the patient to endens the lowest radiation dose to patient and workers

​​​​​​​5. Detector of X-RAY should be as close to the patient, inorder to block scatter radiation.