Because radiography devices produce radiation, safety protocols must always be in place.
Radiography is a branch of diagnostic medicine that uses X-rays and other radiation-producing forms of electromagnetism to see inside the human body. Regulations in this industry are in place at all levels, ranging from devices that radiology personnel use to scan the human body to certification and licensing of staff. These requirements ensure that no staff or medical personnel are placed in undue danger.
Safety Requirements
Radiographers and radiography assistants cannot perform their jobs unless proper safety protocols and devices are in place at the radiography center. Personnel are required to wear a combination of radiation detection devices certified by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program. These devices protect staff and patients by measuring radiation levels present in rooms containing radiography equipment. If the detection device is lost or damaged all work in radiography must stop until radiation levels and the amount of exposure can be determined.
Radiography Equipment Performance
According to the Food and Drug Administration, radiography equipment manufacturers are bound by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which governs the manufacturing standards of medical devices. Radiography equipment manufacturers must prove their devices are effective and can be safely used by medical personnel and patients. The FDA conducts periodic evaluations and inspections of manufacturing facilities, including the components and the assembled medical devices, assuring that standards are maintained.
Professional Licensing and Certification
Radiography operators, radiologists and other medical personnel operating radiation equipment are required to be licensed and certified through an accredited radiography degree program in the United States. Certifying organizations must be incorporated and nationally recognized institutions that provide certifying exams to members and non-members. In order to remain licensed, radiographers and other personnel must attend yearly mandatory refresher safety courses on hospital or radiography center protocols at an accredited institution. Records of these courses are required to be kept by the radiographer's employer for three years.
Tags: medical personnel, equipment manufacturers, Food Drug, human body, medical devices, radiation levels
