IONIZING RADIATION

Julia Robert R. Tiin

 HELLO!

Radiation
Energy emitted from a source is generally referred to as radiation.
Examples include heat or light from the sun, microwaves from an
oven, X rays from an X-ray tube, and gamma rays from radioactive
elements

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Ionizing Radiation
 Ionizing radiation is radiation with enough energy so that
during an interaction with an atom, it can remove tightly
bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing the atom
to become charged or ionized.
 Ionizing radiation can occur naturally from the radioactive
decay of natural radioactive substances such as radon gas
or it can be generated artificially man-made radioactive
substances or the operation of certain electrical equipment,
such as X-ray sets, which emit ionizing radiations.

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 TYPES OF IONIZING
RADIATION

⊡ Alpha ⊡ Beta ⊡ Gamma ray

⊡ They are ⊡ High energy ⊡ Have no mass and
positively electron, stopped no electric charge.
charged particles by aluminum plate. These are photons,
with two protons stopped by dense
and two material.
neutrons. Fast
moving helium
nucleus, stopped
by skin or paper.

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 PROPERTIES OF IONIZING RADIATION
We are familiar with many types of radiations in our everyday
lives. Even visible light is a form of radiation. The main
difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation is in
the amount of energy the radiation carries It has such high
energy that when travelling through matter, it knocks
electrons from the atoms. This process is called ionization.
Every atom can be split into a negative charged particle
called an electron and a positive charged particle called an
ion.

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 “
Radioactive material - means any material which emits, by
spontaneous nuclear disintegration, corpuscular or
electromagnetic emanations.
Restricted area - means any area access to which is controlled
by the employer for purposes of protection of individuals from
exposure to radiation or radioactive materials.
Radiation Dose – the amount of radiation absorbed by a person’s
body.

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 USE OF IONIZING
RADIATION
SOURCES
⊡ A nuclear density gauge is a tool used in civil construction
and the petroleum industry as well as for mining and
archaeology purposes. It consists of a radiation source that
emits a directed beam of particles and a sensor that counts
the received particles that are either reflected by the test
material or pass through it. By calculating the percentage
of particles that return to the sensor, the gauge can be
calibrated to measure the density and inner structure of the
test material.

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 NUCLEAR DENSITY
GAUGE

Used by many contractors, engineers, and highway

departments for compaction control of soil aggregate,
concrete, and full depth asphalt.
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 USE OF IONIZING RADIATION SOURCES
In some industries, accumulation of naturally occurring
radioactivity can occur. Everything around us is radioactive.
In some cases, this natural radioactivity can accumulate. It
accumulates in the Oil and Gas industries. We drill into
solids to extract oil. Solids may contain naturally occurring
radioactive material that can accumulate in vessels or
deposit on internal surfaces. Workers working in the vicinity
of such places are exposed to elevated levels of ionizing
radiation.

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 USE OF IONIZING RADIATION SOURCES
Ionizing radiation sources are used in medicine for
diagnosis and treatment If someone has an internal
injury, it is almost certain that he/she will be sent for an X-
ray examination. X-rays are produced in X-ray tubes.
They enter into the patient’s body on one side and leave
on the opposite side, where a detector is installed. Since
X-rays are attenuated differently in different tissues, we
get an X-ray image of the patient’s internal organs and
bones

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 Exposure To
Ionizing
Radiation
INTERNAL EXPOSURE EXTERNAL EXPOSURE
⊡ Ionizing radiation occurs ⊡ Occur when airborne
when a radionuclide is radioactive material is
inhaled, ingested or deposited on skin or
otherwise enters into the clothes. This type of
bloodstream. Internal radioactive material can
exposure stops when the often be removed from the
radionuclide is eliminated body by simply washing.
from the body, either
spontaneously or as a result
of a treatment.
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 RADIATION
DAMAGE
⊡ SHORT TERM EFFECTS ⊡ LONG TERM EFFECTS
Radiation sickness Cellular damage
 Nausea & vomiting  Mutate and reproduce and
 Headaches cancer can occur.
 Fatigue Genetic damage
 Fever  smaller head or brain size
 Short periods of skin  poorly formed eyes
reddening  abnormally slow growth
 Mental retardation

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 WANT BIG
IMPACT?

ACTION PLAN
FOR HEALTH
AND SAFETY
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1 - Identification of hazard
 Ensure your employer identifies any sources of ionizing radiation
and undertakes monitoring;
 Ensure your employer monitors all workers who may be exposed
to ionizing radiation using a dosimeter, which is worn as a badge
attached to clothing. At monthly intervals the dose meter should
be sent to a laboratory where the radiation exposure can be read
 Note it is likely that your employer will need to employ someone
with the relevant expertise to do this. The employer has a duty
under Section 22(2)(b) of the OHS Act to employ or engage
someone who is 'suitably qualified'.

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The film badge dosimeter or film badge is a
personal dosimeter used for monitoring
cumulative radiation dose due to ionizing radiation.

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 Talk to members of your work group about the hazards of
radiation and their control, and any effects they may be
experiencing on a regular basis.
 Investigate any past incidents.
2 - Assessment of risk
 Ensure the employer assesses results of monitoring - keep a check
on results.
 Ensure your employer has an effective incident reporting
procedure in place to record actual and potential exposure to
radiation, unsafe conditions, and workers.

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3 - Elimination/reduction of risk
 Ensure your employer controls the risks of radiation following the preferred
order of control methods:
 takes all measures possible to avoid exposure;
 isolates all sources of radiation by shielding, containment or remote
handling;
 maintains all radiation generating equipment in order to minimize radiation
emitted and prevent any 'leakages';
 implements engineering controls to reduce radiation levels
 develops safe practices work practices and procedures, and ensures they
are followed.

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Shielding: There are activities that require workers to be
close to the source and in a high radiation field. In that
case, we minimize the doses by using shielding and
protective clothing. Also, lead gloves can be used, however
such gloves are quite thick and not appropriate for detailed
work.
Time: Decrease the amount of time spent near a radiation
source.
Distance: Increase distance between yourself and a
radiation source.

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 provides suitable protective clothing and administrative controls, including
job rotation and rest breaks, to limit the amount of time employees are
exposed, where engineering controls are unavailable or ineffective to
reduce exposure levels;
 provides adequate information and training on any radiation hazards in
the workplace. Training should include information on the sources of the
radiation, the health effects, the control procedures in place and how they
are monitored, safe work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE),
emergency procedures and radiation monitoring programs where
appropriate;
 maintains all controls implemented;
 develops back up options emergency procedures in the case of control
measures failing.

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4 - Review
Ensure:
⊡ the employer maintains on-going monitoring of the
environment and worker exposure to check effectiveness
of control methods;
⊡ you take up any immediate issues with your employer.
Contact your union for further information and advice.

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 QUIZ

1. What is ionizing radiation?

2-3 Give at least 2 uses of ionizing radiation
4-6 3 Types of Ionizing Radiation
7-10 Enumerate the action plan for health ad safety.

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 http://www.ohsrep.org.au/hazards/radiation/ionising-
radiation
 https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/Ionising_radiation_at_workplaces
 https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/radiationionizing/
 http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/ionizing-radiation-health-effects-and-
protective-measures

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