Operating various machines that emit radiation is the most essential part of a technician’s job, and these professionals need to learn the exposure limits and the correct machine settings for the medical equipment they use every day. They should also know when the x-ray tube is functioning, so that they can wear a lead apron or stand behind a protective wall as a barrier to the radiation. In addition, safety devices that come with the equipment, such as shielding and warning lights, should be kept in proper working order to provide additional radiation protection.

Wearing Lead Aprons

Lead aprons are protective garments that shield both technicians and their patients from dangerous radiation. They have been customized to meet a variety of medical needs, but to be effective, they must be worn properly in an environment that is inspected for safety factors on a regular basis. Also, the issue of protection is so serious that untrained personnel are generally not allowed to enter the diagnostic areas of a medical facility where radioactive imaging procedures are used.

Other Dangerous Exposure to Avoid

An x-ray machine may be situated in an established radiology laboratory, and or it may be portable for use in various surgical and clinical venues. In both cases, the patient being x-rayed could be going through some surgical or medical treatment that would readily expose technicians to the patient’s blood or other bodily fluids. As a precaution, they should always wear rubber gloves, and add a gown, surgical mask, and goggles when the situation calls for it. Also, for the safety of everyone concerned, the equipment they work with should be washed and sterilized every time it is used.

Additional Safety Factors to Consider

To ensure their proper alignment, these professionals have to manipulate both the patient and their equipment simultaneously. When doing this, they should avoid static positions and over-extending their body or over-reaching when moving their equipment, have co-workers assist them when they are assisting or transporting a patient, and master the right lifting techniques as well.

An assortment of film-processing equipment and chemicals are used in developing the technicians’ films, and they should carefully study the related material safety data sheets (MSDS). Doing this will enable them to comprehend the fill levels and mix ratios for the chemicals they are using, and when technicians work with wet chemicals, splash goggles and chemical-resistant gloves are also recommended for their protection. crcst certification