Basic Radiation Safety in Laboratories
Basic Radiation Safety in Laboratories
Radiation is part of the routine operation of many laboratories in industries as diverse as healthcare and scientific research to industrial applications. And if you work with radiation, safety must always be at the top of your mind. Familiarity with basic concepts in radiation safety is essential for short-term and long-term health. If you work or manage a lab, it is a must that you enroll in a Radiation Safety Training Course to protect your safety, your staff’s safety, and the environment at large.
Here at SLC, one of the leading Health and Safety Training Institutes in KSA, we are committed to the delivery of high-quality training to ensure our clients understand and comply with radiation safety guidelines. We are outlining below the basic principles of radiation safety in laboratories so that you may better understand why radiation protection is important.
Radiation, whether ionizing or non-ionizing, if not properly controlled can lead to health issues. Ionizing radiation, for one, is harmful and some of the harm includes burns, illness from radiation, and increased cancer likelihood. Thus any laboratory that handles radioactive material or device emitting radiation must always and strictly observe safety measures.
The ALARA Principle: Minimize Exposure
The ALARA principle, or “As Low As Reasonably Achievable,” constitutes the foundation of radiation safety. It emphasizes minimizing exposure to ionizing radiation through three factors:
- Time: The shorter the time spent in an irradiated area, the smaller the dose; therefore, plan tasks carefully to minimize the amount of time spent in areas with radiation.
- Distance: Intensity for most types of ionizing radiation decreases significantly with distance; therefore, keeping a safe distance from sources of radiation greatly reduces exposure.
- Shielding; The radiation can be absorbed or blocked by the specialized barriers, which include lead, to add further protection for the workers.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Along with the ALARA principle, another fundamental practice in laboratory radiation safety involves personal protective equipment. Common PPE for radiation includes the following:
- Lead aprons or shields.
- Radiation exposure monitoring dosimeters.
- Gloves and face screens prevent the radiation from coming into contact with the material.
- Respirators when handling airborne radioactive material.
Radiation Safety Training- A Must!
Work with radiation is always fraught with risk, but education can be a partial mitigator. A Radiation Safety course educates on the potential dangers but prepares the individual to work with the radioactive material and maintains all legal safety standards.SLC provides in-depth training in radiation safety specifically for laboratories in industry.
Our professional instructors will help trainees with a deeper understanding of safe practices and real work applications using actual, realistic scenarios. Enroll in our Radiation Safety training course today.
Conclusion
A laboratory can never compromise on radiation safety. A laboratory, following the ALARA principle, using appropriate shielding, and having appropriate personnel training, can minimize risks associated with radiation exposure considerably. We at SLC are committed to making safety an integral part of our training.
For further information, to place a booking in our Radiation Safety training course or to check your needs, please contact SLC. We are your qualified Health and Safety Training Institute in Saudi Arabia. Discover how to be sure radiation safety standards are achieved correctly in the workplace.