Radiography Program Radiation Safety Overview
These instructions are provided to you so that we can comply with the state rules for radiation control as enforced by the North Carolina Division of Radiation Protection. These state rules require that our radiation-producing equipment meet specific requirements, require that certain procedures be followed, and that records be kept. A copy of the entire manual of regulations called “The North Carolina Regulations for Protection Against Radiation (NCRFPAR)” is always available for you to read and review, located in the radiography faculty office pod, Room 240 of the AHWD building. Our X-ray facility is registered with the state of NC. This notification is also on file in the radiography faculty office pod, Room 240 of the AHWD building.
These guidelines intend to establish procedures to minimize radiation exposure of radiography students and patients in the energized laboratory setting, as well as the clinical setting. You are required to know the procedures outlined and be able to demonstrate their application. You will be asked to sign and date a statement that you have been informed of and understand these guidelines. This signed statement will be kept in your file in the faculty offices.
Other specific information for the clinical settings is provided in the Radiography Introduction course RAD 110. You will also have an entire course in radiation protection in the 3rd semester of the program.
All operators of X-ray machines are responsible for following the radiation safety procedures outlined below. Sereitha Miller is the A-B Tech Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and has the responsibility and authority for overseeing matters relating to radiation protection. The RSO also confirms all training and serves as the contact person with the state agency. Employees or students should submit all radiation questions or concerns about radiation safety to the RSO.
Sereitha Miller is the A-B Tech Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and has the responsibility and authority for overseeing matters relating to radiation protection. The RSO also confirms all training and serves as the contact person with the state agency.
Radiography Program Radiation Safety at Clinic
- Always wear the personnel radiation dosimeter provided to you by the program faculty. Never wear anyone else's dosimeter. Wear the dosimeter on your collar and keep it outside a lead apron if one is worn. When not in use, store your dosimeter in a radiation-free area.
- Students are required to properly wear personal radiation dosimeters. Students Will Not be permitted in the clinical setting without a personal radiation dosimeter. Attendance and point deduction will apply.
- If you suspect there has been an excessive exposure or radiation incident, immediately contact your supervising technologist or clinical instructor. You should immediately contact the RSO for the facility.
- Always try to keep your radiation exposure as low as you can. Always be aware of where you are standing and how long you stay in a radiation area. Do Not enter or remain in a radiation area unless it is necessary.
- Under ordinary circumstances, no one should be allowed in the room with the patient during an X-ray examination. If other persons are needed for the examinations, they must wear dosimeters and/or protective devices. They must follow safe radiation procedures and shall keep out of the direct beam. Whenever possible, use mechanical or other safe holding devices when a patient or image receptor must be held during an exposure. If a person must be selected to hold, choose a person who is not pregnant or potentially pregnant, is over the age of 18, and has seldom held a person during X-ray examinations.
- Students SHOULD NOT hold patients during an exposure. Student MUST NOT hold image receptors during exposure. This is in accordance with JRCERT standards.
- Stay in the control booth or other designated “safe” area during each exposure.
- Always maintain visual and aural contact with the patient.
- Restrict the X-ray beam to the area of clinical interest. The beam size must not be larger than the image receptor.
- Use a centimeter-measuring (caliper) device for each patient to determine the thickness of the body area to be x-rayed. Using these measurements, check the technique chart or manual at the control panel of the machine to determine the proper settings for mAs and kVp. Do not depend on memory for the proper technique. The technique chart must be updated as needed.
- Do not perform fluoroscopy without the immediate supervision of a physician or designee properly trained in fluoroscopic procedures.
- All students in a room during fluoroscopy shall wear a lead apron.
- Whenever a student is assigned to do a portable exam, he or she must don a lead apron during the exposure.
- The doors to all radiographic rooms must be closed before an exposure is made.
- All persons, especially children or adults of childbearing age, must be gonadally shielded unless it interferes with the study being performed.
Any violations of these behaviors may result in a range of actions, from warnings and/or being sent home (with attendance and point deductions) to dismissal from the program.
Students are expected to always wear the radiation dosimeter provided by the program while on clinical assignments. The dosimeter should not be left in an area where it is exposed to excessive conditions, such as heat or moisture. The student is responsible for bringing their dosimeter with them as directed to the clinical site or campus to exchange it for new dosimeters. Students are required to properly wear a personal radiation dosimeter. Students Will Not be permitted in the clinical setting without a personal radiation dosimeter. Attendance and point deduction will apply.
Current monitor reports will be available to the student within 30 school days following receipt of the data. The final dosimeter must be given to the program faculty as a condition to sit for the final exam in the last semester. The dosimeter should always be worn at the neck level and outside of the lead apron if one is worn. Accumulated dose reports are maintained permanently for all students.
The student is reminded that the intentional exposure of any dosimetry device is punishable by state and federal laws. Any student found guilty of making such exposures may be referred to the Vice President for Student Services for disciplinary action. In such a case, the program faculty may recommend that the student be dismissed from the program. Further information will be provided in the A-B Tech Lab and Radiation Protection Guidelines provided to each student in the fall semester.
As required by State Regulation 15A NCAC 11, Rule .1614, everyone who enters a restricted area under such circumstances that he or she receives, or is likely to receive, a radiation dose of 10% of the limits documented in State Rule .1604(a) (5 rem/yearly) will be provided an appropriate monitoring device. Everyone under 18 years of age shall be allowed an annual occupational dose of 500 millirem/year.
TLD dosimeters shall be provided by The Radiation Detection Company, Inc. The dosimeter will be changed quarterly. Records of exposure shall be maintained by the RSO. All personnel occupational radiation readings shall be made available for participant review within 30 days of their receipt and review by the RSO. The provided dosimeters are for use in A-B Tech Rad Program clinical rotations only.
In accordance with ALARA procedures, the personnel monitoring Level One “action” for one quarter is 100 millirem as reported on the quarterly report from The Radiation Detection Company, Inc., or other current dosimeter monitoring service. If an individual exceeds these limits, they shall be informed of radiation policies to restrict and prevent recurrence. All notifications will be documented by a memo from the program faculty (see sample below). A Level Two notification will be given if the quarterly report shows an exposure of 250 millirem or greater. A more thorough review of work habits is performed at this notification level (see sample below).
Never wear your dosimeter when undergoing any type of medical or dental radiographic procedure as a patient. Dosimeters are intended to measure student occupational exposure only. In the event you lose your dosimeter, notify the program director immediately to arrange for a replacement. Your clinical rotations must be restricted (with possible deduction of clinical grade) until you receive the replacement.
Student-issued dosimeters are to be worn Only during clinical rotations. If you are employed as a radiographer by an institution, they are required to provide you with an additional dosimeter. You are Not to wear your student-issued dosimeter during time spent working as a radiographer. If you are found violating this policy, you may be dismissed from the A-B Tech Radiography Program. This is a huge deal, and you are advised to take this action seriously.
Remember that the dosimeter does not act as a warning device or a radiation prevention device. Their sole function is to document any exposure an individual may receive as part of their work with radiation sources.
Records of the quarterly and yearly cumulative exposure received by faculty and students are kept on file in faculty offices. A permanent copy of the total cumulative exposure report will be kept on file for all program graduates. This information may be requested by future employers. The program will release this information after receiving a signed release form from the graduate.
Memorandums
Memorandum
To:
From: A-B Tech Radiography Program Faculty
Subject: Level One Radiation Exposure
The intent of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) program is to maintain exposure to radiation at levels that are as low as feasible. Our radiation safety program is based on the premise that radiation exposure is not risk-free and, therefore, exposure should be kept to levels that are permitted by the State, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other regulatory agencies. ALARA is critical to the current radiation protection philosophy.
You are being sent this memo because you have received at least 100 millirems on your last quarterly radiation monitoring report for the period of:
Your actual exposure was:
Your dose is relatively low and below regulatory limits, but indicates a need to review work procedures for possible reduction of exposure. Remember to apply the basic rules of time, distance, and shielding to keep your exposure as low as possible.
Please keep this report for your records. A copy will also be kept in your program file.
Memorandum
To:
From: A-B Tech Radiography Program Faculty
Subject: Level Two Radiation Exposure
The intent of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) program is to maintain exposure to radiation at levels that are as low as feasible. Our radiation safety program is based on the premise that radiation exposure is not risk-free and, therefore, exposure should be kept to levels that are permitted by the State, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other regulatory agencies. ALARA is critical to the current radiation protection philosophy.
You are being sent this memo because you have received at least 250 millirems on your last quarterly radiation monitoring report for the period of:
Your actual exposure was:
Your dose is above our Level Two limit and indicates a need to review work procedures for possible reduction of exposure. Please reply to the following questions and return the form as soon as possible so we may evaluate any factors affecting your exposure. Always remember the principles of time, distance, and shielding to help reduce your exposure!
- Was the dosimeter placed or stored near radiation?
- Did you accidentally expose yourself to a beam of radiation?
- Did you hold a patient during a radiation exposure?
- Were you involved in procedures requiring unusually high radiation exposure?
- Please describe any unusual incident or provide any additional information that will help explain this exposure:
Please keep this report for your records. A copy will also be kept in your program file.