BASIC SAFETY AWARENESS OF RADIATION SAFETY WILL BE USEFUL FOR RADIOLOGY STUDENTS.

1. BASIC RADIATION SAFETY
AWARENESS
S.GOKULAPRIYA,
RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER,
KING GEORGE HOSPITAL,
VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA
PRADESH

2. OBJECTIVE
 To understand:
 What is radiation
 Effects of radiation
 Safe practices with radiation for worker, public and
patients
 Reporting mechanism incase of over exposure

3. WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT
RADIATION EXPOSURE ?
 Can it hurt ?

4. Off Course Radiation Can Hurt

5. EFFECTS OF RADIATION
 Stochastic Effect
 Stochastic effect occur by a chance and which may occur
without a threshold dose
 As the dose to an individual increases the probability of
cancer or genetic effect will occur also increases

6. EFFECTS OF RADIATION
 Deterministic Effect
 Determininstic effect describe a cause and effect relationship
between radiation and certain side effects
 Determisnistic effect have a threshold dose and below which
the effects does not occur

7. EFFECTS OF RADIATION
 It can burn ones skin
 It damages body cells and DNA causing mutations
and cancer
 It affects embryo and fetus

8. WHY RADIATION PROTECTION
 To reduce the probability of stochastic risk at an
acceptable level
 To prevent deterministic effects

9.  How to Protect Patients, Public And Staffs From
Radiation?

10. Protection Of Radiation Workers

11. ALARA PRINCIPLES

12. ALARA
 Alara is a philosophy, necessary to maintain personnel
exposure or the release of radioactivity to the environment
well below applicable limits by means of a good radiation
protection plan, through education, administrative
controls and safe lab practices.

13. TIME
 Less time = less radiation exposure
 Radiation workers should pre plan the procedure to
minimize the exposure
 Radiation workers should do dry runs (without
radioactive material) to practice

14. DISTANCE
 Effective and easy to follow
 More distance = less radiation exposure

15. SHIELDING
 Materials “absorb” radiation
 Proper shielding = less radiation exposure

16. TO SUM UP
 Exposure to X ray radiation is reduced if:
 Time exposed to source is less
 Distance from the source is more
 Shielding from the source is more

17. PREGNANCY AND THE RADIATION
 The embryo is sensitive to lethal effects of x rays and
doses much higher than 50mSv can lead to miscarriage
 An exposure of 1mSv is safe for fetus

18. RADIATION EFFECTS ON EMBRYO AND
FETUS
 Effects on infants due to exposure of the embryo or fetus
to radiation (500 mSv)
 Severe mental retardation and congenital
malformation (deterministic effect)
 Likelihood of leukemia (stochastic effect)

19. SHIELDING THROUGH PROTECTIVE DEVICES
 Examples of protective devices
 Lead apron
 Lead flaps
 Gloves
 Masks
 Eye protector
 Mobile lead barrier
 thyroid collar

20. LEAD APRON USAGE
 Lead aprons are shielding apparel recommended for use by
radiation workers.
 These are classified as secondary barriers to effects the of
ionizing radiation

21. CORRECT WAY TO STORE APRONS
 When not in use
 All protective apparels should be hung properly designed
racks
 Protective apparel should also be radiographed for
defects such as internal cracks and tears at least once a
year

22. TLD BADGES FOR RADIATION WORKERS

23. TLD BADGE – PERSONNEL MONITORING
DEVICE
 It is the responsibility of individuals to follow safe
practice measures
 If you are a radiation worker and have not applied for
TLD badge then please contact your HOD/RSO to fill the
TLD application form

24. TLD BADGE
 Tld should be worn at chest level or waist level
 If a protective apron is worn the badge should be worn
under the apron
 Do not store badges in a place in radiation area
 Tld badge is changed every 3 months

25. RADIATION AREAS AT KGH
 Radiotherapy
 Radiology
 Nuclear medicine
 Cath lab
 Ot
 Dental
 Mamography
 Orthopaedics
 Gastro Entrology

26. SIGNAGE
 When you see this sign or the trifoil symbol at the
center of this sign, it is your notification that a radiation
hazard is present.
 All containers with regulated radioactive material will be
labelled

27. RADIATION AREA - SIGNAGE
 Indicates the presence of a x ray machines
 Indicated the source is radioactive material

28.  Reporting Mechanism In Case Of Over Exposure

29. EMERGENCY RESPONSE
 Unsafe radiological conditions should be promptly
reported to the RSO.
 Report emergencies such as personnel contamination,
radioactive spills, lost or stolen radioactive material
(including waste) or other potentially hazardous
conditions
 Loss or accidental exposure to the TLD badges should be
immediately reported to the RSO
 An accident involving medical emergencies, shall take
priority over the concern for radioactivity

30. ICRP RECOMMENDATIONS : INDIVIDUAL
DOSE LIMITS

31. Radiation Protection For Patients

32. MAXIMIZE THE TUBE DISTANCE AND
MINIMIZE DISTANCE FROM THE PATIENT

33. Radiation Protection For Public

34. RADIOTHERAPY AND THE PUBLIC
 Public:
 People living around a radiotherapy facility
 Visitors to the department
 Relatives, friends and other persons who may be in
contact with patients
 Not necessarily: Partners and non-occupational
persons who are involved in care or comforting the
patient - this is “Medical Exposure”

35. …PUBLIC COULD ALSO BE:
 Staff from other departments/divisions
 Contractors
 electricians
 painters
 plumbers

36. CONTROLLED AREA
 A controlled area is an area where procedural controls
are required in order to restrict radiation exposures.
Restriction of Access

37. MEANS TO PREVENT PUBLIC EXPOSURE
 Access restriction
 Shielding
 Warning signs
 Lights
 Interlocks (e.g. door)
 Written information

38. TAKE HOME MESSAGE
 MRI area is not a radiation hazard
 However, all staff members are requested to ensure the
metallic objects are left outside the MRI room

39. TAKE HOME MESSAGE
 Be aware of radiation application/radiation warning
symbol
 Follow the basic principles of radiation safety
 Intimate your Supervision/HOD/RSO if you are
pregnant and working in the radiation zone
 Use TLD properly
 Any radiation emergency contact RSO