Eagle’s Five Steps to Radiation Safety

Author Christy Draus Head of Marketing

While x-ray systems have been deemed safe for food and pharmaceutical inspection and for worker safety, there are steps that manufacturers can take to ensure the proper use of such equipment in their facilities, whether it’s a newly installed machine or an existing one.

X-ray technology dates back over a century, has been proven safe by a variety of research studies and is highly regulated to ensure the well-being of workers and products. Given that track record, strict oversight and built-in safety features in the equipment itself, you don’t have to be worried about the use of x-ray systems in your working environment.

All that said, there are some steps you should take to ensure employees are properly working with x-ray inspection machines and that the machines are working as designed.

1. We recommend having a designated Radiation Safety Officer or another appointed individual at your company who is trained and responsible for x-ray systems. That Radiation Safety Officer also is in charge of registering any new x-ray inspection equipment with proper radiation control agency in your country or state.
2. Speaking of regulations, be aware of and compliant with any and all national, state or local radiation safety requirements. It’s common for several governmental agencies to have some kind of oversight of the use of x-ray inspection systems.
3. Take advantage of Eagle’s radiation safety training and radiation protection programs. We offer complete Radiation Safety Training Packages, and have developed specific datasheets for radiation surveys and radiation safety training.
4. X-ray machines are built for safe use, from stainless steel construction to encasement in stainless steel cabinets to the inclusion of various shut-off and other safety features, but you can and should control any exposure to radiation while x-ray systems are in use by minimizing time spent in a radiation field and maximizing distance from a radiation source.
5. Regularly test x-ray machines to make sure they meet industry standards, such as the UK Ionizing Radiation Regulations 2017 and the American Standard 1020.40 CFR. These safety guidelines must be followed by trained operators to ensure a facility remains in compliance with regulatory standards.

See firsthand how x-ray inspection of food is safe, by watching this webinar.