11 Radiation Safety

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
USA Department of Labor

OSHA OUTREACH SAFETY TRAINING
Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REGULATIONS

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Radiation
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Introduction
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• Radiation is in every part of our lives. It occurs naturally in the earth

and can reach us through cosmic rays from outer space.
• Radiation may also occur naturally in the water we drink or the soils
in our backyard.
• It even exits in food, building materials, and in our own human
bodies.
• Radiation is used for scientific purposes, medical reasons, military;
we can also come into contact with radiation through man-made
sources such as X-rays, nuclear power plants, and smoke detectors.
What is Radiation?
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• The process of emitting energy in the form of particles or waves.

• Matter’s is composed of very, very small particles called atoms.
• Radiation comes from atoms that are in the process changing.
Sources of Radiation:
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• Scientists estimate that the average person in the United States

receives a dose of about 360 millirem of radiation per year.
• Eighty percent of human exposure comes from natural sources: radon
gas, the human body, outer space, and rocks and soil.
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• The remaining twenty percent comes from man-made radiation

sources, primarily medial X-rays.
Types of Radiation:
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1- Non-Ionizing Radiation.
2- Ionizing Radiation.
Non-Ionizing Radiation:
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• Has enough energy to move atoms but not enough to alter them
chemically.
• It is all part of the electromagnetic spectrum, or electromagnetic
radiation.
• Electromagnetic exists as waves with both an electric field and a
magnetic field.
• Ultra Violet, Infra Red, Microwave, Laser.
Hazards of Non-Ionizing Radiation:

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• Its energy is transformed into thermal and chemical energy.

• Thermal energy generates heat, and chemical energy can cause
reactions which may damage the molecule in our tissues.
• Some energy can cause burns (IR), and can cause cataracts and can
burn the cornea and injure the retina.
• UV can cause blindness.
Protection:
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• Appropriate engineering controls and safe work practices.

• Apparatus are designed to prevent the escape of harmful light – follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing bulbs and making
repairs.
• Make sure all shields and guards are in place whenever the bulb in
energized.
• Use the proper eye protection.
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Ionizing Radiation:
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• Is radiation that has sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms.

• The major types of radiation emitted as a result of spontaneous decay
are Alpha and Beta particles, and Gamma rays. X rays, another major
type of radiation, arise from processes outside the nucleus.
• Alpha particles are energetic, positively charged particles that rapidly
lose energy when passing through matter and do not penetrate so far.
• They can cause damage over their short path through tissue. (Not a
hazard outside the body).
• They can be very harmful if they are ingested or inhaled.
• Alpha particles can be stopped completely by a sheet of paper.
Beta Particles:
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• Beta particles are fast moving negatively charged particles.

• Beta particles are more penetrating than Alpha particles.
• Some Beta particles are capable of penetrating the skin and causing
radiation damage.
• They can be very harmful when they are inhaled or ingested.
• Can be stopped by a layer of clothing or by a few millimeters of
aluminum.
Gamma Rays:
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• Gamma rays are weightless packets of energy called photons.

• They have neither a charge nor a mass and are very penetrating.
• Gamma rays can easily pass completely through the human body or
be absorbed by tissue, thus constituting a radiation hazard for the
entire body.
• Several feet of concrete or a few inches of lead may be required to
stop the more energetic gamma rays.
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X-Rays:
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• X-rays are high-energy photons produced by the interaction of

charged particles with matter.
• X-rays and gamma rays have essentially the same properties, but
differ in origin.
• X-rays are lower in energy and less penetrating than gamma rays.
• A few millimeter of load can stop medical x-rays.
Risk from Exposure to Radiation:

5BU
• Radiation is carcinogen, can cause cancer.

• It may also cause other adverse health effects, including genetic
defects in the children of exposed parents or metal retardation in the
children of motors exposed during pregnancy.
• Knowledge about risks from radiation is based on studies of over
100,000 survivors of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Effects of wide range of radiation doses.
Radiation Protection Concepts:

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• There are three concepts in basic radiation protection. They are:

1- Time.
2- Distance.
3- Shielding.
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Time:
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If you decrease the amount of time you spent near the source of radiation,
you will decrease the amount of radiation exposure you receive.
Distance:
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• The farther away you are from a radiation source, the less the
exposure.
• The intensity of radiation from a source varies inversely as the square
of the distance from the source.
Shielding:
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If you increase the shielding around a radiation source, it will decrease

your exposure.
Radiation Measurement Units:

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• Red
• Roentgen
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• Curie
• Rem
• Sievert
• Becquerel
Radiation Absorbed Dose (RAD)

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The unit of absorbed dose, a dose of one RAD means the absorption of
100 ergs of radiation energy per gram of absorber or 10 j/kg of absorbing
materials.
Roentgen
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Is a unit of exposure and represents the amount of x-rays or gamma

radiation required to produce ions carrying one electrostatic unit of
charge of either in 1 cc or dry air under standard conditions.
Curie (Ci)
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Unit of radioactivity defined as the quantity of any substance in which

the number of disintegration per second equals 3.700 x 10¹º
Roentgen Equivalent Man (REM)

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The unit of dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in REMs is numerically

equal to the aborbed dose in RADs multiplied by the quality factor, the
distribution factor, and other necessary modifying factors.
Sievert (Sv)
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• Special name for the SI unit of dose.

• One Sievert = 100 REM
Permissible Dosage:
8B
REMs per calendar year

Whole body: head and trunk; active blood-forming organs; lens of 5
eyes or gonads
Hand and forearms, feet and ankles 75
Skin of whole body 30
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Laboratory Safety Rules:

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• No individual is to undertake work with radioactive materials or

radiation sources without prior knowledge and understanding of the
possible exposure to be incurred and the means available to control
this exposure.
• Eating, drinking, smoking and the application of cosmetics are
forbidden in workrooms and labs where radioactive material is stored
or used.
• Proactive gloves are required for all operations involving radioactivity
in the laboratory.
• Laboratory coats, safety glasses, and closed-toed shoes shall be worn
and are required when working with unsealed radioactive materials.
• Solutions containing radioactive materials shall not be pipetted by
mouth.
• A catch pan of non-breakable material must be used under any vessel
or equipment which may leak, burst, or spill a radioactive material.
• Personal effects shall not be stored in radioactive materials work
areas.
• Workers should monitor themselves for contamination before leaving
work areas.
• Portable and fixed instruments for use in radioisotope monitoring
must be used.
• Food and beverages are not to be stored in the laboratory, and
refrigerators labeled for radioactive materials.
• Radioactive sources should not be manipulated with the fingers, but
rather with suitable forceps or tongs.
• Possible contaminated hands should be carefully washed and
monitored before touching the face, body, or other individuals.
• All radioisotopes must be stored in approved areas.
• Return unused radioactive materials and radiation sources to proper
storage when not in use.
• No containers normally used for food or beverages shall be used for
storing or handling radioactive materials.
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Labeling of Radioactive Materials

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• All primary containers in which radioactive materials is used or stored

must be labeled with an approved label showing the following:
o The magenta radiation sample.
o The words “Caution Radioactive Material”.
o Identification of the radioactive substance.
o The amount or radioactivity.
o The date labeled.
Warning Signs:
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• Radiation area.
• It is possible for an individual to receive a whole-body exposure in
excess of 5 merm in any one hour.
• High radiation area.
• Exposure in excess of 100 mrem in any one hour.
**********************************************************

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration

USA Department of Labor

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REGULATIONS

• Radiation is in every part of our lives. It occurs naturally in the earth

• The process of emitting energy in the form of particles or waves.

• Scientists estimate that the average person in the United States

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

• The remaining twenty percent comes from man-made radiation

Hazards of Non-Ionizing Radiation:

• Its energy is transformed into thermal and chemical energy.

• Appropriate engineering controls and safe work practices.

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

• Is radiation that has sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms.

• Beta particles are fast moving negatively charged particles.

• Gamma rays are weightless packets of energy called photons.

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

• X-rays are high-energy photons produced by the interaction of

Risk from Exposure to Radiation:

• Radiation is carcinogen, can cause cancer.

Radiation Protection Concepts:

• There are three concepts in basic radiation protection. They are:

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

If you increase the shielding around a radiation source, it will decrease

Radiation Measurement Units:

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

Radiation Absorbed Dose (RAD)

Is a unit of exposure and represents the amount of x-rays or gamma

Unit of radioactivity defined as the quantity of any substance in which

Roentgen Equivalent Man (REM)

The unit of dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in REMs is numerically

• Special name for the SI unit of dose.

REMs per calendar year

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

Laboratory Safety Rules:

• No individual is to undertake work with radioactive materials or

Mirdif Security & Safety Consultants

Labeling of Radioactive Materials

• All primary containers in which radioactive materials is used or stored

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