Radiation Safety

Commonly referred to as: Radiation Safety for Clinical Health Care Industry Representatives Radiation Safety Table of Contents: Radiation Safety Legal Notice Purpose and Learning Objectives Radiation Nuclear Regulatory Commission Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazards Associated with NRC-Licensed Facilities Types of Radiation Ionizing Radiation Non-Ionizing Radiation Sources of Ionizing Radiation Exposure Handling Radiation Materials Know the Radiation Warning Symbols Safe Handling of Ionization Radiation Materials Personal Protection Low-Level Waste Disposal Radiation Emergency Procedures Notification of Radiation Incidents Employee Responsibilities to Ensure Radiation Safety in the Workplace End of Course Exam Course Content Example 1: Radiation The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) defines radiation as energy traveling through space and includes alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, x-rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, high speed protons, and other atomic particles. If not properly controlled, radiation can be hazardous to the health of employees in a workplace Two agencies provide guidelines for worker protection at nuclear facilities in the U.S. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Course Content Example 2: Types of Radiation: A Physics Lesson Living tissue is 70% to 90% water by weight. The dividing line between radiation that excites electrons and radiation that forms ions is equal to the ionization of water. Two things happen when radiation is absorbed by matter: Excitation or Ionization Non-Ionizing radiation carries less energy can only excite or move the water molecule Ionizing Radiation carries more energy and can remove an electron from a water molecule Both types of radiation can pose a considerable health risk to exposed workers if not properly controlled Course Content Example 3: Ionizing Radiation Used in workplaces since 1896 Found in heath care facilities, research areas, nuclear reactors, nuclear weapon facilities Utilization of radiation therapy is increasing world wide and many cancers are treated this way Neutralizes harmful biological agents (anthrax) and food microorganisms