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Protective Equipment for Radiation

Is this pair of gloves safe?

Click on the image to see the results of the x-ray.

Protective gloves (full hand) and aprons are the minimum safety equipment required for most veterinary x-ray operations. Thyroid collars are not required for most veterinary radiographic operations; however, they are recommended for fluoroscopic procedures or if a staff member has a concern about their safety without them. Lead glasses are usually not recommended for normal operations, but are recommended for fluoroscopic procedures. All protective equipment must be in useable condition without cracks or holes. There must be enough gloves and aprons for every person involved in the procedure; except for a teaching facility or radiology specialty practice, this usually means two pair of gloves and two aprons are appropriate.

Protective equipment should be stored properly to ensure it remains effective. Gloves, aprons and thyroid collars should never be folded. This will cause permanent creases and weak lines in some types of materials. A commercial or home-made hanger is a good way to store these items. It's also very effective to lay the aprons and gloves flat on the x-ray table when not in use. The gloves, aprons and thyroid shields should be wiped clean with a mild detergent/ disinfectant when necessary; never machine wash them.Radiographic protective equipment should never be used as restraint or capture aids. Animals can bite through the protective layers and make the article unusable for protection from radiation.

Radiographing the gloves and aprons is a simple and effective way to evaluate their protective capabilities. The gloves are placed on a large cassette and radiographed. The apron is done in a serial fashion until the entire apron is checked. The technique will vary according to the machine, just use a high enough MAS and KVP to slightly penetrate the gloves or apron (the image will appear slightly gray instead of pure white). Cracks, tears or other deformities will be very apparent, even on the "double-thick" gloves. Be sure to keep records of these tests. If someone else performs the tests (e.g., the state inspector) ask them for a written statement attesting to the results of the tests.

Are hand shields acceptable forms of protection?

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The information on these pages is excerpted from
The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest
Copyright 2005 Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT  All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced for distribution without prior permission from the publisher.