Annual Associate Safety Module

Radiation Safety Safe Use of Radiation Sources

Radiation Safety Program

MLH’s Radiation Safety Program (RSP) promotes keeping radiation doses to patients, staff, and the public as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The Radiation Safety Officer administers the RSP. MLH supports a proactive safety culture, good practices for use and control of radiation sources, and compliance with radiation safety standards.

RSP Inspections

Tennessee regulators perform unannounced inspections of MLH facilities to ensure compliance with regulations, licenses, and registrations. Hospital accreditation bodies also inspect specific areas of the RSP during their visits.

Radiation Producing Devices (RPD): X-rays

X-ray machines, such as CT, fluoroscopy, and radiography devices provide diagnostic images of patient’s internal anatomy. Technologists use protocols to keep patient doses very low to where no harm is expected. These devices emit no radiation when off.

Radiation Producing Devices (RPD): Accelerators for Cancer Therapy

Linear accelerators give very high, focused radiation doses to patients that accurately target cancer cells and spare health tissues. These RPD have enhanced safety features and shielding to keep staff and public radiation doses ALARA.

Linear Accelerator in Radiation Therapy

Radioactive Materials: Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine exams use radioactive tracers to assess the function of patient organs. Administration of low doses allow release of these patients to the hospital and public areas without restrictions. Radiation doses to attending hospital staff and the public have been repeatedly shown to be minimal.

Nuclear medicine gamma camera

Radioactive Materials: Cancer Therapy

Nuclear medicine and radiation therapy physicians use high doses of radioactive materials to treat cancer. Patients are instructed on ways to keep doses to others low. Radiation precautions for in-house staff for admitted patients include signage, training, and radiation surveys.

eye plaque for brachytherapy

Radiation Protection: Signs

Radiation warning signs alert staff of rooms or areas where radioactive materials or elevated radiation exposure levels are present. Only trained, knowledgeable staff should enter these areas. Rooms with diagnostic x-ray devices have X-ray signs or labels at the entry.

Radiation Protection: General Practices

Staff doses are kept minimal while caring for patients undergoing diagnostic imaging or radiation therapy by using time, distance, and shielding. • Keep time of exposure minimal. Radiation dose

increases with the time of exposure. • Increase distance away from sources. Radiation dose

decreases significantly with distance. • Use shielding to absorb radiation. When you need to

be close to the patient during imaging, wear a lead apron. Thyroid collars and lead eyewear are also encouraged.

Radiation Protection:Equipment Operation

Only qualified staff are approved to operate RPD or handle radioactive materials. These staff apply optimal imaging techniques for patients and control radiation sources for staff safety. All persons present during x-ray imaging need to wear lead aprons, which stop 85-90% of x-rays. For portable or non-routine exposures, people can stand more than 6 feet from the patient without a lead apron.

Background Radiation

Radiation is naturally present everywhere; in us, in the air we breathe, and our surroundings. Everyone receives radiation doses from this background radiation. Background doses vary significantly across the US and globe. Regardless, no harmful effects have been observed, even in places with higher levels.

Radiation Protection: Personnel Dose Monitoring

Individually assigned radiation badges worn by radiation workers indicate the dose they receive at MLH. Nearly all radiation workers receive doses much less than background levels. • Radiation badges used at MLH accurately

measure radiation doses – from less than background to very high levels.

• The accuracy of a person’s dose measurement depends on wearing the badge properly when working with radiation sources.

Radiation Protection: Personnel Dose Monitoring

Proper wearing of radiation badges include: • Exchanging badges timely for processing,

whether issued monthly or quarterly. • When wearing a lead apron, wear the badge at

the collar over the lead apparel. • When not wearing lead apparel, wear the badge

on the chest. • Finger ring labels should face toward the

radiation source.

Radiation Protection: Pregnant Women

Proactive steps are taken to prevent pregnant patients and staff from being exposed to radiation sources. Pregnant radiation workers can be issued fetal badges to monitor the dose to their unborn child. Fetal badges are worn at the abdomen, under the lead apron when worn. Fetal badges are issued monthly.

Radiation Safety: Summary

Complying with the Radiation Safety Manual and other MLH rules and policies keep patients, staff, and the public safe by keeping radiation doses minimal (ALARA). Contact the Radiation Safety Officer (516-7728) with any questions you have or to report any unsafe conditions or disregard for radiation rules.