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C - A R M
S A F E T Y
on Radiological Protection says an apron with
0.35mm lead-thickness equivalence is sufficient
for most fluoroscopic procedures. Staff and
physicians with heavier imaging workloads
should wear wrap-around lead aprons that overlap at the front with 0.5mm lead-thickness equivalence. Individuals with light imaging workloads
receive adequate protection from 0.25mm leadequivalence aprons.
Inspect aprons regularly and before use, palpating the surfaces and looking for tears. Hang
n HANDLE WITH CARE Hang lead
aprons in storage so they don't bend
or crack.
them in storage so they don't bend or crack.
Many states require formal annual inspections, which may involve X-raying each
apron to ensure they're still intact.
Over the past few decades, experts have learned that healthcare providers
who are regularly exposed to X-rays are more likely to develop cataracts than
the general public, so anyone who routinely touches patients while the X-ray is
activated should wear lead glass eyewear.
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Track exposure
All those involved in fluoroscopy procedures who wear lead aprons must
also wear 2 radiation badges: one under the lead apron between the waist
and chest, along the midline; the other on top of the apron at the left side of the
collar (usually closer to the X-ray tube) in order to measure eye exposure, according to National Commission on Radiation Protection & Measurements guidelines.
Radiation safety officers use the combined readings to estimate the whole
body dose, typically on a monthly basis. The badges indicate if members of the
care team are wearing enough protection, and help determine if the protection
is working properly. Maximum acceptable exposure levels are based on NCRP
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2013
