Do I need film badges?
Currently, the state of Tennessee's default position for dosimetry badges in dental offices is that they do not need film badges. However, in order to solidify this exemption, a scatter survey has to be performed in your office to demonstrate that you fall below the regulated <100 mR/week in controlled areas and <2 mR/week in non-controlled areas. I perform this survery for you every time I come to your office, and I document it for you.
However, there is an exception. If you were to purchase a handheld x-ray unit (see this article), the state requires every operator to wear both whole body and ring badges.
OSHA requires that a survey is conducted to demonstrate that you fall below 25% of the allowable 5000 mR/year. Failure to prove this fact results in an $8000 fine. Again, I perform this survey for you. (see "10/8/12 - OSHA Rising")
Pregnant employees are required to stay below 500 mR during their gestation period (or 50 mR/month). Here is what I recommend in the case of pregnancy:
1) Write a policy that informs the staff that it is their decision to declare their pregnancy or not
2) If they declare their pregnancy, purchase a film badge for the collar and the waist of the pregnant employee.
3) Purchase an operator's lead apron for the pregnant employee to wear while taking X-rays (see Buy An Operator's Apron)
4) Every month, when the film badge reports come in (this is the report which says how much radiation they have recieved), have the employee sign off on the report
5) Once the baby is born, sum up the total radiation recieved from all reports, verify that it is below 500 mR, and have the dentist and employee sign off on the total.
6) Provide a copy to the employee and archive your copy in the employee file.
This Pregnancy Declaration and accompanying pregnancy policy is how one program has elected to address pregnancy and film badges. There may be some take-aways that would work for you and your practice as you seek to establish this policy. However this policy is crafted, it should contain the following considerations:
The following facts should be given to the pregnant employee:
1) The first three months of pregnancy are the most important as the embryo-fetus is most sensitive to radiation at this time.
2) In most cases of occupational exposure, the actual dose received by the embryo-fetus is less than the dose received by the mother, because some of the dose is absorbed by the mother's body.
3) At the present occupational dose equivalent limits, the risk to the unborn baby is considered to be small, but experts disagree on the exact amount of risk.
4) There is no need for women to be concerned about sterility or loss of ability to bear children from occupational exposure.
5) Once a pregnancy becomes known, radiation dose of the embryo-fetus shall be no greater than 50 millirems in any month.
6) The 500 millirems dose equivalent limit applies to the full nine months of pregnancy.
7) Provide this Notice to the employee and post a copy in a common area
Available options of protecting embryo/fetus
1) Temporary assignment to tasks which involve less risk of being exposed to radiation
2) Use of protective apron (full-size, half-size, wrap-around, or any other protective clothing appropriate to the situation) while actually exposing patients
3) Use of monitoring devices such as a film badge worn at the abdomen
4) Staying out of the x-ray room and behind the protective barrier during exposure
The most popular NVLAP approved companies for dosimetry are Landauer, Global Dosimetry, and Radetco.
However, there is an exception. If you were to purchase a handheld x-ray unit (see this article), the state requires every operator to wear both whole body and ring badges.
OSHA requires that a survey is conducted to demonstrate that you fall below 25% of the allowable 5000 mR/year. Failure to prove this fact results in an $8000 fine. Again, I perform this survey for you. (see "10/8/12 - OSHA Rising")
Pregnant employees are required to stay below 500 mR during their gestation period (or 50 mR/month). Here is what I recommend in the case of pregnancy:
1) Write a policy that informs the staff that it is their decision to declare their pregnancy or not
2) If they declare their pregnancy, purchase a film badge for the collar and the waist of the pregnant employee.
3) Purchase an operator's lead apron for the pregnant employee to wear while taking X-rays (see Buy An Operator's Apron)
4) Every month, when the film badge reports come in (this is the report which says how much radiation they have recieved), have the employee sign off on the report
5) Once the baby is born, sum up the total radiation recieved from all reports, verify that it is below 500 mR, and have the dentist and employee sign off on the total.
6) Provide a copy to the employee and archive your copy in the employee file.
This Pregnancy Declaration and accompanying pregnancy policy is how one program has elected to address pregnancy and film badges. There may be some take-aways that would work for you and your practice as you seek to establish this policy. However this policy is crafted, it should contain the following considerations:
The following facts should be given to the pregnant employee:
1) The first three months of pregnancy are the most important as the embryo-fetus is most sensitive to radiation at this time.
2) In most cases of occupational exposure, the actual dose received by the embryo-fetus is less than the dose received by the mother, because some of the dose is absorbed by the mother's body.
3) At the present occupational dose equivalent limits, the risk to the unborn baby is considered to be small, but experts disagree on the exact amount of risk.
4) There is no need for women to be concerned about sterility or loss of ability to bear children from occupational exposure.
5) Once a pregnancy becomes known, radiation dose of the embryo-fetus shall be no greater than 50 millirems in any month.
6) The 500 millirems dose equivalent limit applies to the full nine months of pregnancy.
7) Provide this Notice to the employee and post a copy in a common area
Available options of protecting embryo/fetus
1) Temporary assignment to tasks which involve less risk of being exposed to radiation
2) Use of protective apron (full-size, half-size, wrap-around, or any other protective clothing appropriate to the situation) while actually exposing patients
3) Use of monitoring devices such as a film badge worn at the abdomen
4) Staying out of the x-ray room and behind the protective barrier during exposure
The most popular NVLAP approved companies for dosimetry are Landauer, Global Dosimetry, and Radetco.
Landaeur - Click Picture
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Global Dosimetry - Click Picture
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Redetco - Click Picture
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