Radiation Safety in Healthcare

Throughout the healthcare industry, radioactive material and equipment is used for a variety of reasons. These materials need to be labeled and stored in order to prevent exposure to personnel. While safeguards help protect staff members and patients, knowledge and training is also important to ensure safe conditions throughout clinics and hospitals.

Features

• According to the University of Washington, education is an important aspect of radiation safety in healthcare. Understanding what to do when working around radiation, how to recognize the materials and control exposure are the most important features of safety.

Identification

• State and federal guidelines throughout the country enforce the need for hospitals and clinics to identify radiation hazards. All presence of radioactive material must be identified with warning signs featuring a radiation symbols.

Significance

• Radiation materials are labeled with measurements to help identify the possible biological dangers of radiation. This measurement is known as a rem. People are generally exposed to 200 to 400 millirems each year, an amount with no significant threats.

Types

• Three types of safety techniques are used in order to prevent exposure. These are limiting the time in areas around radiation, keeping a distance of at least six feet from materials and maintain a shielding door between a person and the area.

Considerations

• One way to avoid prolonged exposure to radiation in the healthcare industry is to wear personal monitoring devices known as dosimeters. This helps personnel know where radiation is present and how much radiation they are exposed to.