SAFETY ENGINEERING
There is no advance warning of overexposure that will
RADIATION SAFETY
• situation where radiation (x-ray) is encountered by a
typical person
o hospital
o dental clinic
o medical clinic
QUESTIONS RAISED BY A TYPICAL PERSON ABOUT
X-RAY
• is x-ray really bad to the human body?
• If x-ray is bad to the human body, then why is it being
applied to the patient?
• Why is it that I did not feel anything when I disobeyed the
advise to be at a safe distance form the x-ray area
considering I was exposed that time?
• What kind of x-ray is damaging to the human body?
• How long should I be exposed to feel the effects of x-ray?
• What are the protective or safety measures against x-ray?
• Are there several types of x-ray?
• What are the effects of x-ray to the human body if badly
exposed?
• If one is exposed to x-ray, then what are its corresponding
medical treatment?
• Are the effects of x-ray to the human body lasting or life
threatening?
DEFINITION AND TYPES OF RADIATION
• Radiation- is the phenomenon where radio activity or
radiant energy from radioactive materials or improvise
devices is being released or emitted
• Two types or radiation in the industry
o Ionization radiation- type of radiation that
penetrate the skin and can produce damage in
any tissue of the body.
o Non-ionization radiation – are those related to
infrared and ultraviolet radiation, microwaves,
and visible light. Laser also fall under this
category.
o LASER – Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation
HAZARDS CAUSED BY RADIATION
• External – refers to the radiation exposure due to radiation
sources outside the body like x-ray apparatus, sealed
sources and open sources
• Internal - refers to radiation exposure arising when the
radiation sources get into the body and irradiate the body
from within.
EFFECTS OR RADIATION TO THE HUMAN BODY
IONIZATION RADIATION
• Radiation cannot be seen, smelled, heard, felt or tasted.
allow an employee to avoid it.
• The short exposures that we experience in the hospitals or
medical and dental clinics can be tolerable to the majority
but few people, that short exposure may aggravate
“unknowingly” the sickness that already exist in their
body or may initiate for a new one.
• You can only know the amount of radiation you receive
from an exposure only if you are equipped with a
radiation-measuring device that time which for ordinary
persons definitely are not ordinarily equipped.
• “Moral lesson is why take the risk of being “unduly”
exposed in the hospitals or clinics, just obey the
precautionary advised to keep away from the radiation
area and there will be no worry about anything at all
LONG TERM EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION
• Anemia
• Sterility
• Leukemia
• Bone damage
• Damage to unborn child during pregnancy
• Mutation (genetic damage)
• Tumors
• Cataracts
• Shortening of life span
ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME STAGE (Short time or
short period of hours effects of overexposure)
• Predome stage- (before specific symptoms appear)-
nausea, vomiting general malaise.
• Latent stage- noticeable symptoms subside or disappear,
but the changes are taking place within the body in the
blood forming organs
• Manifest illness stage- hair loss, hemorrhage, diarrhea,
fever, prostration, infection and cardiovascular collapse.
• Death or recovery stage- death or recovery follows
depending on the degree of exposure and tolerance of an
individual.
NON-IONIZING RADIATION
• Infrared radiation- typical sources are hot metal and
molten glass. Steel rolling operations are frequent
offenders
• Ultra-violet radiation- common type is the ultraviolet rays
of the sun. In the industry, the common sources are the
arc welding operations and the use of ultraviolet lamps
used for inspection or sterilizing procedures
• Microwave radiation – typical sources are those used in
commercial cooking and drying operation.
• For ultraviolet rays of the sun, it can produce sunburn and
severe exposure can result to skin cancer. It can also
cause cataracts.
• For infrared and microwave, radiation can produce burns
or excessive or overheating of body tissues that can result
to tissue destruction.
• For laser, which are composed of parallel light waves, it
can cause severe eye injury or even blindness when the
eyes are overexposed.