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2. Monitor hand exposure
Staff and surgeons who routinely work within 1 meter (39 inches) of the
primary X-ray beam should wear ring dosimeters to measure the amount of
radiation their hands are exposed to. Traditionally, dosimeters have been
worn on collars outside the protective apron, but that may not accurately
register the amount of radiation that reaches the hands, which are especially
vulnerable when, for example, physicians are holding instruments in the
surgical field or injecting dye into the patient.
3. Shield eyes with lead
Personnel who are close to the radiation source should have leaded eye
protection — leaded eyeglasses with wraparound side shields, ceiling-
suspended shields or clear mobile shields that are taller than the person using
them. The idea of having lead in eyeglasses is one of the newer concepts in
radiation protection, but it's an important one. Think of it the same way you'd
think about wearing goggles if you were working with dangerous chemicals.
4. There are lighter forms of protection
There's no question that protective aprons should be worn by all members of
the perioperative team when a source of radiation is activated, but lead
doesn't have to be the only choice. Lighter lead-equivalent materials, such as
tungsten-antimony and bismuth-antimony, are equally effective and may be
more comfortable when worn over longer periods of time. Strong evidence
also supports the wearing of protective caps.
5. Pregnancy isn't a deal-breaker
There's considerable evidence that pregnant caregivers can be adequately
protected when working around radiation, but they should still take extra
precautions. In addition to following standard radiation protection techniques,
wearing a maternity or double-thickness apron that's large enough to cover the
