Lecture 7. Principles of Radiation Safety

Question 1

What is a Radiation Protection Program?

Answer 1

the systematic method by which an organization:
1. Develops its safety culture
2. Develops the means for ensuring that the use of radioactive material and radiation emitting devices meets regulatory standards
3. Ensures the optimization of radiation doses to the staff, patients and the public

Question 2

What are the two main objectives of radiation protection?

Answer 2

1. Elimination of deterministic effects
2. Minimization of stochastic effects

Question 3

What is the main stochastic that we are concerned with?

Answer 3

Cancer

Question 4

What are the 3 fundamental principles of radiation protection?

Answer 4

1. Justification
2. Optimization
3. Limitation

Question 5

What is Justification?

Answer 5

The need to justify any activity which involves radiation exposure on the basis that the expected benefits to society exceed the overall societal cost

Question 6

What is Optimization?

Answer 6

The need to ensure that the total societal detriment from such justifiable activities or practices is maintained As
Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA), economic and social factors being taken into account

Question 7

What is Limitation?

Answer 7

This can achieve the first objective of eliminating deterministic effects, so long as the dose limits are set below the deterministic thresholds

Question 8

List the components of the Radiation Safety Program

Answer 8

1. Organization and Administration
2. Employee Qualification and Performance
3. Radiation Protection Personnel Qualification and Performance
4. Exposure and Dose Control
5. Instrumentation and Equipment
6. Radioactive Material Inventory Management
7. Personnel Dosimetry
8. Contamination Control
9. Emergency and Special Procedures

Question 9

What is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)?

Answer 9

The federal authority which regulates use of any facility that incorporates a medical electron accelerator certified by the CNSC as Class II Prescribed Equipment, regardless of the maximum photon beam energy and all radioisotopes via the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) and regulations

Question 10

What is the the role of Manitoba Health?

Answer 10

Provincial authority which regulates use of x-ray devices above 1 MV via the Radiation Protection Act