Industrial Radiography

SAFETY AWARENESS
Radiation
• It is a form of Energy
• X-Rays and Y-Rays have
no mass and no charge
and are electromagnetic waves.
• Alpha, Beta and Neutron are
particulate radiations.
Ionization Rad
• Removal of electron from a material
is called Ionization.
• Types of radiation A) Ionizing Radiation
Eg: X-Ray, Y-Ray etc.,
B) Non-Ionizing Radiation
Eg: Television, Mobile Tower etc.,
 IONIZING RADIATION
• Radiation consisting of particles, X-rays or Gama rays with sufficient energy
to cause ionization in the medium through which it passes.
• Ionizing radiation is produced by the natural decay of radioactive materials,
Deceleration of electrons and Nuclear fission etc.
• Beta, Gama, and X-rays are forms of Ionizing radiation that are often used
in research and industrial work.
 NATURALLY OCCURRING
RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS.
• Elements such as Thorium, Uranium, Radium are naturally occurring
radioactive elements that can be found in our everyday lives.
• These elements can be found in
- Rocks, soil and building materials.
-Food and water.
• Some resources are a result of ground nuclear testing which is not
naturally occurring.
• Cosmic and atmospheric radiation originates from sun and stars.
• Earth’s atmosphere is very effective in shielding cosmic radiation, but
variations in the density of the atmosphere can result in uneven distribution
of protection.
• Cosmic radiation can be accumulated through one cross country air plane
trip.
• Our bodies contain naturally occurring radioactive elements such as
potassium.
• Some consumer products such as luminous dial watches and smoke
detectors contain small amount of radioactive materials.
• Hospitalized individuals who undergo medical procedures are exposed to
sources of ionizing radiation.
 PENETRATING RADIATION
• X-rays and Gama rays can penetrate the body and irradiate internal
organs.
• Exposure can result in external and internal doses.
• Internal exposure can occur when rays are ingested, or absorbed
through the skin.
 RADIATION ABSORBED DOSE
RAD
• RAD is a unit of measurement used to describe the amount of energy
transferred from a source of ionizing radiation to any material,
including human tissue.
• It is the quantity of radiation received by an individual.
 Roentgen equivalent man
REM
• Different types of ionizing radiation cause differing degrees of
biological effects.
• REM is used to express the quantity of radiation received by radiation
workers and others.
• The rate at which an individual is exposed also influences the level of
biological harm.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION
• When radiation passes through the body, it transfers some of its
energy to the cells in the form of ionizations and excitations,
which in turn leads to a number of chemical changes. Generally
these chemical changes are harmful to the cells. Depending upon
the seriousness of the harm, a cell either dies or gets modified.
All the biological effects of radiation arise from these two effects
on cells – CELL DEATH OR CELL MODIFICATION.
• Biological effects of radiation can be classified into two groups,
depending upon the types of cells damaged. They are SOMATIC
EFFECTS AND HEREDITARY EFFECTS.
 SOMATIC EFFECTS
• Early somatic effects- At low doses, since only a few cells are killed the body can cope up with the
loss and hence no immediate effects are seen. However, as dose increases, more and more cells get
killed and this results in radiation sickness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. within a few hours of
irradiation.
• However, these effects are transient and disappear after a few hours.
• As dose increases further the effects appear quicker, are more severe and last longer.
• If damage caused to important organs such as blood forming organs, intestine, etc. is so severe that
the patient will not be able to recover.
• Another sensitive organ is the reproductive organ, testes in male and ovaries in females. Due to death
of germ cells sterilization results. This maybe temporary or permanent depending upon the dose.
LATE SOMATIC EFFECTS - The most important late somatic effect is cancer. When the
irradiated cell is modified rather than killed it may develop into cancer, after a
prolonged delay. The delay may vary from 5 years to 30 years or more. Unlike the
case of early effects the probability of cancer resulting from radiation increases with
every increment of dose, probably without any threshold. Radiation is not the only
agent which induces cancer. A number of chemical agents and biological processes
can also induce cancer. Compared to these, radiation is a weak carcinogen. However,
cancers induced by radiation are indistinguishable from those induced by other
agents.

NOTE:
• Somatic effects appear in the exposed individual
• Hereditary effects appear in future generation of the exposed individual.
• Accute dose means large dose in a short period
• Chronic dose means dose received over a long period.
 Genetic effects.
• Genetic effects refer to biological changes on
the descendants/future generation of the exposed
individuals due to genetic cell mutation.
Radiation Effects
 Minimizing exposure.
• When working with radioactive material ,
remember to minimize your exposure at all
possible times.
 MEASURE RADIATION DOSE
• There are gadgets to measure the dose received by a radiation
personnel while working.
• Radiation monitoring gadgets follow a Geiger Muller counter which
induces with the radiation received and gives an estimated dose rate.
• For example
- POCKET DOSIMETERS.
 ALARA PRINCIPLE
• Always achieve ALARA.
• ALARA means “AS LOW AS REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE”
• WHY ALARA ?
Any type of ionizing radiation poses some risk. As exposure increases,
so does risk.
Please limit your exposure whenever possible.
Three effective strategies to reduce radiation
exposure
 THREE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES
TIME
• Minimize the time and you will minimize the
dose.
• Pre-plan the exposure to minimize the exposure
time
 DISTANCE
• Doubling the distance from the source can reduce your
exposure intensity by 25%.
• Use CV tongs , and lead pots to increase your distance from
the source when an incident takes place.
 SHIELDING
• Position shielding between yourself and the source of radiation at all
permissible times .Take advantage of permanent shielding.
• Plexiglass , plywood, and lead are effective in shielding ionizing
radiation.
• Concrete blocks can also be used in order to restrict radiation.
• Reasons for an accident.
 Risk / Hazard can be avoided by
taking precautions and safety
measures like using safety
accessories such as radiation
survey meter, dosimeters etc., in a
right manner.
Always use a principle ALARA
while doing radiography testing.

“As Low As Reasonably

Achievable”

Date: 09-Mar-17
• Proper Planning and Team work leads to Safe
Production.
Avoid risk by taking safety measures and get the
benefit out of it .
 Points to remember
• Any profession has some risk associated with it.
• Certain amount of risk is tolerated, as we get benefit.
• In radiation work we are concerned with both acute and chronic exposures
and the associated hazard.
• No dose is safe dose.
• Radiation exposures are cumulative in their effect.
• Unnecessary radiation exposure should not be given or taken.
• Radiation exposure should be kept minimum.
• Follow the instructions of the site In-charge.
• Always wear personnel monitoring device such as TLD badge ,
Pocket dosimeter and carry Area monitoring device calibrated
survey meter while working in radiation zone without fail.
• Maintain and monitor the IGRED log books and personnel dose
log books.
• Obey the work site safety instructions.
• Co-operate with fellow workers and fellow agencies to get
efficient work output.
• Always remember that your family is waiting for you.