The ALARA principle is an anagram for:
As low as reasonably achievable
As little as roughly acceptable
As little as realistically acceptable
As less as reasonably achievable
Secondary or scattered radiation:
Occurs between the x-ray tube and the patient
Occurs after the primary beam has left the film
Is the radiation from which the health care workers require protection
When the x-ray photons leave the x-ray tube and travel through the filter
Photons:
Lead to problems with the imaging systems.
Can cause electric malfunctions when absorbed.
Are absorbed by the patient’s body.
Are the final beam affecting the x-ray film.
Radioactivity occurs when:
The patient ingests a liquid during a radiography examination
The atom is unstable due to an imbalance of protons and neutrons
The secondary radiation affects solid objects within the room
The nucleus of one atom becomes unstable due to an imbalance of neutrons and protons
Radioisotopes are used in:
Nuclear medicine studies
Radiographic imaging
Ultrasound examinations
Computed tomography
Linear energy transfer defines:
The rate of travel of an atom when it produces radiation.
The amount of energy transferred during a radiograph.
The amount of energy imparted to the target of an x-ray unit.
High and low levels of energy of the patient during diagnosis.
Scattered radiation is:
Increased with a decrease in kilovoltage.
Increased with a decrease in milliamperage.
Totally controlled by the filtration of the x-ray beam.
Increased by an increase in kilovoltage.
Transmitted photons:
Travel through the body in a uniform pattern.
Are absorbed more in bones than they are in tissue.
Are emitted from the body as scattered radiation.
Carry an image of the tissue through which they have passed.
Radiation protection to the individual is important:
Particularly during the time that a person may reproduce.
During all phases of the life of males and females.
Only to females of childbearing years.
During the years of 15 to 45 for males only.
The fetus will be affected by radiation:
During the last trimester only if the mother is not protected.
Particularly during the first trimester (the 2nd to 10th weeks).
Only if the exposure is directed specifically at the mother.
Only during organogenesis and not after the second trimester.
Three methods of protection are time, distance, and shielding:
Time measures the amount of exposure during the examination.
Distance is the measurement of radiation from the patient to the veterinarian.
Time is measured by the rate of motion within the patient.
Distance is the measurement of the x-ray source to the subject.
The dose to the radiation worker increases:
If the worker does not limit the time of his/her exposure
If the worker does not monitor his/her movement in the room
If all the radiation is directed toward a wall instead of a patient
Once the barriers are in place and the radiation is turned on
Shielding involves the use of barriers to protect against ionizing radiation:
Examples of shields are water, air, silver, and concrete
Shields are barriers that are placed between the patient and the radiation
Shielding materials are referenced to the thickness of lead
Leaded shields can be placed in walls and later removed
Shielding of the imaging suite must be calculated:
And installed prior to the use of the equipment
Particularly if an ultrasound unit is to be installed
Only if the room is to be used on a daily basis
And approved by the facility administrator
Leaded gowns must be worn:
Whenever the health care worker enters an imaging room.
Once the radiography unit is turned on or is left on.
By any health care worker who remains in an imaging room during radiography.
By all staff during the x-ray examination.
The care of leaded aprons should include:
Hanging the aprons and folding them when they are not in use.
Cleaning the surfaces with strong solvents.
Laying the aprons on flat surfaces or on cupboard shelves.
Hanging them by the shoulders with no folds or creases.
A patient should be restrained during a radiographic procedure:
To reduce the stress of the procedure
To protect it from high radiation doses
To encourage him/her to cooperate
To reduce the radiation exposure to health care workers
Measurement of personal radiation is achieved using:
A dosimeter and a radiation detector
A dosimeter that is read on a regular basis
Dosimeters and timed measurements only during radiography examinations
A radiation monitor and a Geiger counter
Radiation workers should be equipped with a personal dosimeter:
That should be worn at all times and stored at home
That should be stored in a location where it will not be exposed to radiation
That should be worn beneath the thyroid collar
That can be shared with other workers intermittently
The personal dosimeter should be assigned to one individual:
If that person works in two locations, it can be worn in both
It must only be worn in one location and stored at that site
It should be worn at or near the wrist
It may be stored in the x-ray room close to the patients
Visitors and service personnel in the x-ray room:
Should be advised to take precautions regarding radiation
Must not be allowed near a radiation source
Should be provided with personnel dosimeters
Should bring their own dosimeters and log their own doses
Each facility that owns imaging equipment:
Is responsible for posting the results of the dosimetry readings.
Must train only the radiation workers in radiation protection.
Must take responsibility for only the radiation workers in the imaging area.
Must not allow health care workers to come into contact with x-rays.
Rules of use for the dosimeter:
Are the same for non-radiation workers and radiation workers.
Are not strict as for non-radiation workers.
Only apply to workers in the radiography area.
Apply only to radiation workers in a health care facility.
Dose limits apply specifically to:
Total radiation from any source and any event.
Irradiation that affects the worker under his/her leaded apron.
Include all radiation resulting from direct exposure.
Irradiation resulting from the worker’s occupation.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act:
Specifies that only radiation workers are protected from occupational hazards.
Specifies that the employer is responsible for health care worker’ safety.
Delineates the workers’ responsibilities to each other regarding safety.
Suggests limits to safety regulations that were not covered previously.
Under the law the employer:
Must appoint a safety officer who oversees safety and prepares written reports.
Should appoint a safety committee and allow for time spent on projects.
Should oversee the recommendations of each employee.
Must organize safety regulations and protocols.
It is the employer’s responsibility to instruct employees of:
The risks of handling of all hazardous biological, physical, and chemical agents.
All threats to the radiation workers for later reference.
The handling, storage, and use of all potentially dangerous materials.
All workers who may come into contact with any dangerous situations.
A medical monitoring program must be set up to:
Record the exposure of any worker to potentially dangerous situations.
Maintain records of exposure to any worker who is exposed to hazards.
Limit the exposure of workers to potentially dangerous materials.
Monitor the testing procedures to ensure the safety of the workers.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the employer must:
Ensure that a consultant is in charge of all testing equipment.
Provide proper training for safety devices and monitoring for all employees.
Not inform workers of any potential danger in their workplace.
Ensure that all workers are consulted on a daily basis.
Protective barriers are placed in specific areas of the workplace:
They may be removed and reassigned by the workers.
They may be sent to other areas as long as they are designated.
They must not be moved without written authority of the supervisor.
The supervisor must provide adequate temporary protection.
When new or replacement equipment is installed in the workplace:
The new equipment must be approved by the supervisor.
Any replacement equipment must be in good working order.
Any new or used equipment must meet the standards outlined in the act.
Any used equipment must be accompanied by documentation.
Hazardous physical agents must be accompanied by:
Good, clear, and basic instructions on their use.
Hazardous signage and antidote symbols.
Antidotes and protective devices.
The best instructions on preventing accidents.
Notices regarding any hazardous physical agents:
Must be written in French and English, and demonstrate clarity of symbols.
Should describe the chemical symbols of the thing.
Should outline measures of protection.
Must be written in English and whatever appropriate languages are prescribed.
The workplace health and safety committee should review:
And identify hazardous situations in the workplace and establish programs to ensure the safety of the workers.
Training of workers and operation of equipment annually.
Workers and their licenses and make appropriate recommendations.
Training semi-annually and make appropriate recommendations.
The irradiation of an x-ray worker:
Shall not be permitted under any circumstances.
Shall be limited to the irradiation resulting directly from their occupation.
Must be permitted if medically necessary.
Must be documented within appropriate dose limits.
All doses produced by an x-ray worker:
Must be as low as reasonably achievable.
May be in excess of allowable doses.
Should not exceed the dose of the previous year.
Should always be documented and reported.
The personal dosimeter assigned to a health care worker:
Must be in compliance with any company specifications.
Must be read regularly and the results must be posted.
Is usually an indication that the health care worker will receive excess dose.
Is only an indication of exposure and will not necessarily be accurate.
If a worker exceeds the allowable dose:
The employer must note the dose and monitor the worker’s activity.
The employer should report the dose and replace the dosimeter.
The employer shall investigate the cause and report his/her findings.
The worker must track the excess dose and reorganize his/her workload.
Where an accidental overexposure to a worker takes place, the employer:
Shall immediately notify the Joint Health and Safety Commission.
Must notify the facility administrator and the radiation protection officer.
Shall notify the legal entity overseeing that country.
Shall contact the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health.
All employers are required by the act to:
Notify the health care workers of potential injury due to radiation overdose.
Notify the workers of their employment as an x-ray worker.
Inform the workers of the dose limits and their potential dose.
Inform the workers that all doses will be their own responsibility.
Every health care worker who assists with an x-ray procedure:
Must be given instructions in writing to ensure compliance.
Must be provided with appropriate and correct protection.
May be given the leaded apron and gloves.
May not need protection if he or she is within 10 feet of the source.
The competent person is assigned to:
Maintain correct records of health care workers and their exposure to radiation.
Maintain and monitor all equipment within the facility.
Organize the workers according to the amount of dose they receive.
Train the staff in the facility regarding radiation protection.
The owner of the radiation-emitting device must:
Become the radiation protection officer.
Keep track of all the equipment in the facility.
Ensure that all radiation safety issues are addressed correctly.
Not assign the designated competent person duties to another individual.
Standard patient exposure is measured in:
Roentgens.
RAD.
Curie.
REM.
The science of health physics developed radiation protocols that:
Should be available in the patient waiting rooms.
Should be available to every staff member and updated biannually.
Should be compiled by the staff members.
State that time, distance, and shielding are the three cardinal rules for radiation protection.
Inverse square law:
Concerns the intensity of the radiation from a source.
Concerns the use of binding energy calculations.
Is practical only with visible light.
Is useful only with high-energy photons.
Linear energy transfer (LET) is:
The rate at which energy is transferred to the cell.
The transfer of genetic material to the nucleus.
The rate at which energy is deposited in matter.
The rate at which tissues react to the deposition of radiation.
Latent periods may last as long as:
Minutes
Weeks
Months
Years
The radiation primarily effects:
The critical target.
The water surrounding the cell.
The cytoplasm only.
The nucleus only.
LET:
Increases with decreasing penetrability.
Increases with the increasing penetrability.
Decreases with the decreasing penetrability.
Decreases as the charge on the particle remains the same.
Stochastic effects:
Are usually random in nature.
Increase function as dose decreases.
Decrease function as dose increases.
Are specific and exhibit a threshold dose.
Patient exposure dose is measured in:
Milliroentgens
Grays
Rads
Rems
RADs are used to measure:
Radiation dose to the skin.
Radiation absorbed dose.
Accumulated surface exposure.
Radiation amassed dose.
The ALARA concept is used to protect:
The patient.
The veterinary staff.
The general public.
The technologist.
The type of cell division that genetic cells undergo is:
Meiosis
Mitosis
Genome
Duplication
Which of the following is most important in protecting a patient?
Low kVp, high mAs; 72"distance
High kVp, low mAs; 40" distance
Low kVp, low mAs; 20" distance
High kVp, low mAs; 72" distance
Which of the following tissues are most radiosensitive?
Bone marrow in the arm
Muscle tissue in the leg
Tissue of the small intestine
Nervous tissue of the brain
A technician receives a dose of 15 mR/hour at 2 feet from the source. How would that dose change if he doubled his distance from the source?
Increase by two times
Increase by four times
Decrease by two times
Decrease by four times
