10 Safety Measures Radiologic Technicians Should Follow

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As a radiologic technician, you may be exposed to health risks including radiation, infectious diseases, and physical injuries. To protect yourself and your patients, you need to obey specific protocols. Follow these 10 safety measures to keep you and your patients safe:

Radiation Exposure

1. Don Personal Protective Equipment

When you cannot be in a separate room while X-rays are taken, you are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace. This includes lead-lined aprons, gloves, glasses, and a thyroid collar. Your facility should have a special storage area for this equipment, and you should take care to store it properly. Creasing or folding the apron, for example, can reduce its functionality.

2. Monitor Your Exposure to Radiation

Wear a dosimeter to monitor and track the radiation you may be exposed to over time. A dosimeter is a small device that measures and monitors the amount of ionizing radiation you might be exposed to. It acts as your own personal radiation detector and records the cumulative dose you receive. You can wear a whole-body dosimeter on your waist or collar, or you can wear a hand dosimeter on your finger. This will track your exposure to radiation and tally it daily. The limit is 5,000 millirems per year for your body and 50,000 millirems annually for your hands.

3. Avoid Contact with the X-Ray Beam

Never stand in front of an active X-ray beam. When the X-ray machine is on, always position yourself away from the beam and use a shield if necessary to provide a barrier between your body and the laser to unnecessary exposure to radiation.

4. Follow ALARA

ALARA means As Low as Reasonably Achievable. This means exposing yourself to as little radiation as possible. You can do so through three ways: time, distance and shielding. Minimize your time near a radiation source and always keep your distance from it. Shield yourself as much as possible through proper barriers and PPE.

Infection Control

5. Keep the Equipment Clean

Before and after each patient, be sure to clean and sterilize all equipment to aid in infection control. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after positioning patients and ensure everyone wears the appropriate PPE. Encourage patients to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. Keep hand sanitizer in the room for all to use.

Physical Wellbeing

6. Practice General Patient Safety Techniques

Before you begin any procedure, verify the patient’s identity and procedure. Explain the procedure to the patient to ensure compliance and reduce the need for repeat imaging. Adjust the exposure settings based on the patient size and age to minimize dose and carefully position the patient to get the right image the first time.

7. Use Ergonomic Techniques

It’s easy to find yourself hunched over the computer monitors or leaning against a screen during a long exam, but that can put undue stress on your back, neck, and feet. Use ergonomic techniques to keep your body in alignment throughout the day. For example, use a chair that properly aligns your eyes with the screen and keep your feet flat on the floor. Use a vertical mouse to prevent wrist strain and monitor your posture.

8. Be Mindful of Pregnant Patients

For patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, radiation exposure of any kind is not allowed. This is good information to keep in mind so you can prevent patients who may not have this knowledge from making a mistake. Instead, refer them to a diagnostic medical sonographer for imaging as sonograms do not require the use of radiation.

General Workplace Safety

9. Inspect and Maintain Equipment

Before you see patients each day, inspect the equipment to ensure it’s in proper working order. If the equipment doesn’t work, it can fail to take accurate or quality images, which can lead to a misdiagnosis. When you notice the equipment malfunctioning, call an equipment technician to assist and notify your supervisor immediately.

10. Be Aware of the Emergency Stop Button

Your imaging equipment should come with emergency stop buttons that can be pushed when the need arises. This immediately cuts off the power supply to the machine from the generator. You should know where this button is located on each machine. It’s only to be used for emergency shut-off. If you hit it accidentally, immediately contact the equipment technician who can reconnect it to the generator.

We offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Radiologic Technology that can prepare you for an entry-level career in this field. The program is taught by instructors who have years of experience in healthcare and are dedicated to your success. Are you interested in a career in radiologic technology? Contact Charter College today. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.

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