Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd
Upload
66 views

Dinio Rad Protection

Lead aprons, thyroid collars, and protective gloves are types of personal protective equipment used to reduce radiation exposure. They should be constructed of lead sandwiched between inert materials and fit closely to the body without gaps to provide full protection. Dosimeters like TLD badges and OSL badges are used to monitor radiation exposure and should be worn on the collar outside of lead aprons and submitted periodically to monitoring services for analysis. Defective protective equipment with cracks or holes exceeding specified sizes should be decommissioned.

Uploaded by

Lalaine De Jesus
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
66 views

Dinio Rad Protection

Lead aprons, thyroid collars, and protective gloves are types of personal protective equipment used to reduce radiation exposure. They should be constructed of lead sandwiched between inert materials and fit closely to the body without gaps to provide full protection. Dosimeters like TLD badges and OSL badges are used to monitor radiation exposure and should be worn on the collar outside of lead aprons and submitted periodically to monitoring services for analysis. Defective protective equipment with cracks or holes exceeding specified sizes should be decommissioned.

Uploaded by

Lalaine De Jesus
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Dinio, John Dominique P

BSRT III
RAD. PROTECTION
Personal Protective Devices
Types of PPE

Lead aprons and thyroid collars


The effectiveness of lead aprons and thyroid collars in reducing exposure to leakage
or scatter radiation relates directly to their physical construction, fit, and how they are
used.

Construction
Any toxic material used for the attenuation of x-rays in PPE should be sandwiched
between inert material or encapsulated in a substance which does not allow the toxic
material to come in contact with the wearer. The attenuating material should be
affixed to the encapsulating material to prevent the material from sagging,
delaminating, tearing or distorting over time.

Fit
The fit of the protective equipment should be such that all of the organs and parts of
the body which are intended to be protected are protected in all postures and
attitudes (relative orientation to the x-ray source or scattering object) assumed by the
worker during an x-ray procedure. This may involve custom fitting; but at the very
least, the worker should have a choice of sizes.

The fit of wrap-around aprons should be such that the overlapping material provides
appropriate and adequate shielding. The area of the body covered by this material
should include the entire front of the body (anterior surface) and should extend to the
posterior midline of the body.

The thyroid collar and apron should fit together in a complementary fashion so that
there are no gaps between them.

Use
If a worker’s duties necessitate turning his or her back to the scattering object
(patient) for a significant portion of time (based on the risk assessment), the lateral
and posterior layers of the protective equipment should provide appropriate and
adequate shielding. In dose-intensive applications such as angiography, heart
catheterization and interventional imaging, open-backed aprons are not acceptable
for use by anyone other than the fluoroscopist controlling the foot pedal or exposure
switch.

Ergonomic issues should be considered when purchasing an apron. Lumbar support


in the form of weight belts and padded shoulders can improve the product comfort,
and reduce the risk of back injury. Separate skirts and tops can redistribute weight so
as to bear on several large body joints. Manufacturer’s instructions should be
Dinio, John Dominique P
BSRT III
RAD. PROTECTION
followed regarding maintenance and storage. For example, aprons should be hung
up when not in use. They should never be folded, wrinkled or creased.

Leaded glasses

In procedures where scatter radiation to the lens of the eye could approach the
annual dose equivalent limit of 150 millisieverts, as per Regulation 861, the use of
leaded glasses is recommended.

Protective gloves

Protective gloves or gauntlets must possess at least 0.5 mm lead equivalency


throughout the glove, including fingers and wrist, as per O. Reg. 67/93.
General PPE requirements

Labeling

PPE should be labeled with the lead-equivalent thickness of the material permanently
and legibly marked as per Health Canada Safety Code 35. The specific room the
apron is used in, or application the apron is used with, should also be specified on
the label.

Verification of meeting Ministry of Labour shielding

Documentation that particular protective equipment provides appropriate and


adequate shielding can be obtained from the vendor or manufacturer in the form of a
certificate or by physical comparison testing. Verification testing could involve
comparing the grey scale, optical density or radiation measurements between the
protective equipment and a 0.5 mm thickness of non-alloyed lead over the range of
energies (kVp) used in a particular room or application.

Quality assurance testing

It is generally an acceptable quality assurance practice to verify the integrity of


the PPE every six months. This can often be done by a documented visual and
tactile inspection. In addition, a documented fluoroscopic examination or written
assessment of radiographic film(s) should be conducted at least annually or more
frequently if use, conditions or other circumstances require. Records of testing, and
follow-up documentation should be available on demand to Ministry of Labour
inspectors. This is a general duty of an employer under clauses 25 (1) (a) and (b) of
the OHSA.
Dinio, John Dominique P
BSRT III
RAD. PROTECTION
Rejection criteria

Any protective equipment that exhibits visual, tactile or x-ray examination defects,
must be repaired or replaced. This includes tears, separation from stitching, distortion
producing a non-uniform attenuation and multiple pinholes or punctures.

In summary, lead apparel which contains defects such as holes or cracks should be
decommissioned if the aggregate area of the holes or cracks exceeds those in the
table below:

Type of apparel Total or aggregate area


Lead apron with built-in thyroid shield 10 cm2 whole-body
0.2 cm2 or 20 mm2 reproductive region
1 cm2 neck region
Separate thyroid shield 0.03 cm2 or 3 mm2
Gauntlet 3 cm2
Maximum aggregate area of holes or cracks in lead protective apparel

Personal Monitoring Devices

Dosimeters

Devices for monitoring radiation exposure to personnel are


called dosimeters. Radiation workers who are issued single badges for monitoring
whole-body dose should wear them in the region of the collar with the label facing out.
When a lead apron is worn, the dosimeter should be outside of the lead apron.
Technologists who work with fluoroscopy may wear two badges, one on collar outside
the lead apron and one at the waist that is under the apron. The two dosimeters should
be distinguished by color or icons indicating their specific locations. Personnel who are
issued dosimeters should wear them at all times when working in radiation areas, and
should keep them in a safe place, away from radiation and heat, when off duty. In
addition to wholebody badges, ring dosimeters may be worn by nuclear medicine
technologists and others whose work results in more exposure to the hands than to the
body.

Film Badges

Film badges were once the principal type of dosimeter. They are still in use today, but
are much less common. They consist of one or two pieces of dental film, paper-wrapped
and enclosed in a badgelike holder. Several filters are incorporated in the badge so that
if the unfiltered exposure exceeds the capacity of the film, additional exposure can be
Dinio, John Dominique P
BSRT III
RAD. PROTECTION
measured in the filtered area. The disadvantage of this type of personal monitor is that
the dental film is subject to fog when exposed to heat or fumes, and this exposure could
result in a false reading. The film is also ruined if it is laundered! After a period of use,
the film is returned to a laboratory that processes it and measures the OD of the film.
The exposure is calculated and reported based on this measurement. Many
radiographers still refer to their dosimeters as "film badges," but today they are more
likely to be TLDs or OSLs.

Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD)

TLD stands for thermoluminescent dosimeter. The roots of this term mean "dose-
measuring device that gives off light when heated." The TLD is a type of personal
monitor commonly used by radiographer 36). It consists of a plastic badge or ring
containing one or more lithium fluoride crystals. These crystals (and several others with
similar characteristics) absorb x-ray energy and, when heated, give off the energy again
in the form of light. The TLD is more durable than the film badge insert and responds
only to ionizing radiation exposure. At the end of the measurement period, the badge is
sent to a laboratory where the crystals are placed in a special tray and inserted into the
TLD analyzer. This instrument heats the crystals to the required temperature, measures
the light emitted, and transmits the data to a computer.

Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)

OSL stands for optically stimulated luminescence and refers to the most recently
developed monitoring dosimeter. Aluminum oxide is the radiation detector in this device.
The dosimeter is processed using a laser rather than heat as for TLDs. OSLs have
several advantages over TLDs. They can measure very small doses more precisely and
can be reanalyzed to confirm results. They are accurate over a wide dose range and
have excellent long-term stability.

Radiation Monitor Badge Service Laboratories

Radiation monitor badge service laboratories provide dosimeters, processing services,


and reports, and keep permanent records of the radiation exposure of each person
monitored. Service may be arranged on a weekly, monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly
basis. Personnel who receive relatively high doses of occupational exposure change
their badges most frequently. With the exception of OSL badges, dosimeters cannot
accurately measure total exposures of less than 5 mrem (0.05 mSv). For this reason,
personnel who receive very small amounts of exposure will get more accurate
measurements with less frequent badge changes. Personnel involved in diagnostic
radiography who are always or nearly always in a control booth during exposures are
usually best monitored with quarterly service. Monthly service is a better choice for
those who work in fluoroscopy and those who perform bedside radiography.
Dinio, John Dominique P
BSRT III
RAD. PROTECTION
Service companies provide an extra dosimeter in every batch that is marked
"CONTROL." The purpose of this dosimeter is to measure any radiation exposure to the
entire batch while in transit. Any amount of exposure measured from the control badge
will be subtracted from the amounts measured from the other badges in the batch. The
control badge should be kept in a safe place, away from any possibility of x-ray
exposure. It should never be used to measure occupational dose or for any other
purpose.

Radiation badge service companies will want to know the name, birth date, and Social
Security number of all persons to be monitored so that all records can be accurately
identified. If there has been a history of previous occupational radiation exposure and
the dose is known, this information should also be provided so that the record will be
complete and accurate. Exposure reports are sent to the subscriber for each batch, and
an annual summary of personal exposure is also provided. Radiation workers should be
advised of the radiation exposure reported from their badges and should be provided
with copies of the annual reports for their own records. Employees exposed to ionizing
radiation should not leave their employment without a complete record of their radiation
exposure history. Employers are required to provide this information.

You might also like