Radiation Safety Audits
A radiation safety audit involves inspectors examining an organization such as a hospital or a scientific research center to make sure that radioactive materials are handled safely. Safety audits examine the internal controls on radioactive substances and lab equipment, as well as the procedures that document workers' exposure to radiation levels and compare them to maximum acceptable radiation exposure thresholds.
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Government Inspection
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State and federal agencies perform radiation safety audits. One of the organizations that performs these audits is the New York Department of Health. The department provides a list of standards, which companies can use to make sure they have acceptable documentation on radiation safety training. According to the New York Department of Health, companies that are not in compliance when the New York inspector performs the audit have 60 days to fix their safety issues before facing penalties.
ALARA
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Radiation safety audits implement a principle known as ALARA, or as low as reasonably achievable. According to the state of California, this principle applies to all operators of radiation producing equipment, as well as members of the public. The audit minimizes exposure for people who work or live near a facility that uses radiation, such as a medical center or a nuclear power plant. Some exposure is acceptable, since it is not practical to completely eliminate radiation emission.
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Dosimetry
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A dosimetry program measures the total radiation exposure of individuals. Staff who work with radiation often wear radiation badges that monitor the user's doses of radiation. According to the state of California, dosimetry programs include additional oversight such as lower exposure limits for children and pregnant women, as well as coordination with other facilities to add employee exposure to radiation at other labs. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the program should also monitor employees with implants such as pacemakers that radiation may affect.
Warning Signs
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Warning signs are a requirement when radiation is present. Marking rooms that store radioactive equipment is necessary. Signs should follow state regulations, including translation into additional languages if necessary. According to the state of California, the organization must also designate a person who is responsible for posting warning signs, as well as other safety documents outside rooms that contain radioactive materials.
Accident Safety
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Accident safety plans are part of a radiation safety audit. The facility should have a clear method of determining the radiation dose that staff members absorb during an accident, through devices such as radiation badges. The audit also covers cleaning facilities and decontamination, as well as the procedures for safely removing radioactive contaminants from the work environment after an accident.
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References
- Photo Credit radioactive image by Soja Andrzej from Fotolia.com
