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Workplace Radiation

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Workplace Radiation

Workplace Radiation Control

Courtice|Grason is a radiation safety services company that provides Radiation Safety Officer Training, Radwaste Disposal, and Nuclear Gauge Services for regulatory compliance to NRC and state regulations. We primarily serve industrial institutions that utilize fixed and portable nuclear gauges or irradiators in their operations. Our company has over 25 years of experience and offers dependable and cost-effective services to support your Radiation Safety Program. 

While everyone is exposed to natural background radiation, workers may also be exposed to ionizing radiation in workplaces with radiation sources. These radiation sources can pose a health risk to workers if not properly controlled.

You’re already aware that ionizing radiation in the form of x-ray machines is used in healthcare facilities and manufacturing settings. In healthcare, radiation is also used in a wide variety of diagnostic devices, such as CT scanners, and concentrated on treating tumors and cancers.

In industrial settings, radiation can be used in testing devices for sterilization of products, determining the level of moisture in soils, in weapons production, and in nuclear power plants. None of those uses is inherently dangerous, as long as all the required safety devices and processes are in place and used correctly. However, those who work with radiation need to understand the safety procedures, the consequences of failing to follow them, and actions to take in the event of an incident.

Courtice|Grason encourages and promotes the active involvement of employers' and workers' organizations in the development of international standards on occupational radiation protection and in the implementation of the occupational radiation standards at both the national and enterprise levels.

 We offer several services to help you decrease exposure risk, stay compliant, and prepare for radiation safety audits. We will:

  •  Perform radiation safety management planning
  •  Assess radiation exposure risk
  •  Consult on radioactive waste reduction and recycling
  •  Develop a written radiation safety program
  •  Specify, order, and calibrate equipment
  •  Perform wipe analysis
  •  Assist your Radiation Safety Officer with designated duties
  •  Evaluate and offer recommendations for your facility signage
  •  Create a dosimetry program
  •  Assist with annual compliance reporting
  • Qualified staff
  • ALARA
  • Surveys
  • Worker training
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Radiation Safety
  • Radiation Hazards
  • Eliminating Radiations
  • Controlling Radiation
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Radiation safety is not an issue to take lightly, as high doses of ionizing radiation can be highly harmful. To minimize exposure and maintain a safe facility, you should have a radiation safety program. Armed with decades of experience, our environmental consultants provide best practices and skills to ease the worry of radioactive material exposure and regulatory noncompliance.
Also called radioactive safety, radiation safety is a combination of safe practices and preventive measures to promote safety when working with or near radiation. It follows the guiding principle ALARA or “as low as reasonably achievable.” The Center for Disease Control’s definition of ALARA means to avoid it if you don’t need it, even in small doses; this is explicitly made for radiation. The ALARA radiation safety principle is to minimize radiation dosage and control the number of radioactive materials in the environment. Numerous organizations prescribe following radiation safety standards, such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
There are multiple industry workers that are exposed to or handle radiation. Professions such as nuclear workers, medical workers including dentists, pilots, and radiologists to name a few. Several studies have been conducted for the connection between workers who are regularly exposed to radiation and ailments such as cancer and leukemia. Decades of research has concluded that these workers have a higher probability of radiation related risks but not necessarily lead to sickness. An estimated total of 23 million workers are exposed to artificial and natural radiation globally. Exposure to any amount of radiation presents a risk of damage to cells or tissue. While our bodies have the ability to repair damage cells, over time if exposure becomes longer and greater, it can result in many acute injuries such as burns, acute radiation syndrome, and long term health problems such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Radiation safety measures such as conducting safety inspections help ensure that critical radiation safety precautions are in place to reduce the risk of overexposure. There should be visible warning signs, contamination surveys conducted, and device tests for all radiation-producing equipment. All workers must be trained to limit time of exposure, use radiation shields, and increase the distance of contact with radioactive devices and materials.

Everyone must take radiation overexposure seriously. Hence, preventive measures and rules must be strictly followed to avoid critical health conditions. Here are top 10 list of rules to remember when working with radiation:

1. Acquire adequate training to better understand the nature of radiation hazards.
2. Reduce handling time of radioactive materials and equipment.
3. Be mindful of your distance from sources of radiation. Increase distance as much as possible.
4. Use proper shielding for the type of radiation.
5. Isolate or contain harmful radioactive materials properly.
6. Armor yourself with appropriate protective clothing and dosimeters.
7. Conduct contamination surveys in the work area.
8. Do not eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in an area where unsealed radioactive substances are handled.
9. Observe proper radioactive waste disposal
10. Conduct regular radiation safety self-inspections

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