Re: Portable x-ray units in NY

[garyi@trinityphysics.com]

Hi Tony,



There is nothing seriously wrong with that scenario, assuming it was a temporary setup 

and there was no where to hold those waiting for an exam.  If the machine doesn't take 

x-rays elsewhere, then it isn't really portable and it should have permanent barriers to 

protect people.



That is, the benefit of errecting shields everywhere you go with a portable x-ray is not 

worth the cost.  People standing about 10' away should get between 0.1 and 0.01 uSv 

per film.  Not a real stress inducer.



Having said that, if I were in charge of that operation, I would make the technologist 

wear a badge and make everybody wait in a different room.  Purely to CMA.



-Gary Isenhower





On 7 Jun 2004 at 20:01, Tony Hedges wrote:



> Folks,

> One of the RP technicians I train asked about the asbestos chest x-ray he 

> received today. The x-ray was taken in one of our classrooms using a 

> portable x-ray machine. In the room with the tech and the x-ray technician 

> were some folks filling out paperwork. The RP technician had a number of 

> concerns based on some of the training we have done on the medical aspects 

> of radiation and the numerous over exposure events in the medical industry.

> 

> He contacted the safety department, who was running the asbestos physicals. 

> The nurse gave the following responses to his questions. I did a little 

> digging in the NYS code and on the FDA web site. I would like to educate 

> the folks and need to know if this was done correctly. Were the answers 

> correct? Based on my research, I think some of the answers are incorrect 

> and others have been over simplified. Your thoughts?

> 

> 1. The x-ray technician was not wearing dosimetry, should he have been badged?

>       Nurse response: "In regards to the technician not wearing dosimetry, 

> according to NYS guidelines, you are only required to wear for one year to 

> monitor your exposure level for that period.  After that time, if the 

> amount of exams conducted remaine the same and the machine is inspected by 

> a licensed physicist each year then you do not need to continue to monitor 

> yourself, the dose will never change."

> 

> BTW I believe that NYS Code requires you monitor workers if they can 

> receive more than 10% of the limit (in line with 10 CFR 20). If the 

> technician is not receiving over 10% then he doesn't have to wear a dosimeter.

> 

> 2. There wasn't a physical barrier between the machine, the operator and 

> the other people in the room. Also, the operator was not aware of the 

> number of people or their location in the room on the other side of the 

> wall from the primary beam.

> 	Nurse response: "Why were other people allowed in the immediate area when 

> an x-ray was conducted, the response is that people were greater than 6 

> feet from the area when an x-ray was being conducted.  The x-ray technician 

> stated there was only one instance when 2 - 3 people were in the room 

> completing paperwork.  Also, in NYS people only need to be shielded if the 

> beam in closer than 10 cm from  the reproductive organs."

> 

> Tony

> 

> 

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