Radiation safety basics

Sure, you know all about radiation safety. But are you following the rules? Is everyone in your practice taking precautions when it comes to exposure? It's easy to become complacent about something as common as radiography in practice, yet it's essential for your team members, especially your technicians, to fully understand the basics of radiation safety, says Dr. Matthew Wright, MS, Dipl. ACVR, chair of the American College of Veterinary Radiology Digital Imaging Standards Committee. Dr. Wright recommends posting this one-page chart next to your radiograph machine to remind technicians about the basics:

Time

• Minimize time exposed to radiation.

• Use technique charts to decrease repeat exams.

• Rotate available personnel so no one spends a disproportionate amount of time producing radiographs.

• Use tape, sandbags, and restraint devices to limit manual positioning of animals.

• Plan the radiographic procedure carefully to avoid repeat films.

• Use film screen systems to minimize the time of exposure.

Distance

• Maximize the distance between the worker and the X-ray beam.

• Remove nonessential personnel from the radiology room during exposure.

• Never handhold a cassette even with a gloved hand.

Shielding

• Always wear protective aprons, gloves, and thyroid shields.

• Never allow any part of your body to enter the primary beam.

Common sense

• Avoid the primary beam.

• Never hold a portable radiograph machine during exposure.

• Don't allow pregnant women or personnel younger than 18 years old in the radiology room.

• Collimate around your patient so there's a one-inch unexposed area at the periphery of your radiograph to reduce scatter.

• Wear a film badge outside your lead apron at neck level to monitor radiation dose.

• Look away during exposures to protect the lens of the eye.