Evaluation of Potential Exposure to X-Ray Radiation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Achutan, Chandran ; Mueller, Charles A.
• Description:
  The HHE Program responded to an employee and management request at twelve airports through­out the United States to investigate employees' potential exposure to x­radiation during baggage screen­ing. HHE Program investigators observed baggage screening prac­tices and took x-radiation measure­ments at explosive detection system (EDS) machines in airports. Inves­tigators also asked screeners at some airports to wear personal monitoring devices to measure their exposure to x-radiation. The investigators found that baggage screeners were using unsafe work practices and that some of the EDS machines were not well-main­tained. HHE Program investigators also found that most EDS machines emitted low levels of x-radiation, and a few exceeded the Food and Drug Administration's limits. Mea­surements showed that there were low doses of x-radiation among bag­gage screeners in most airports. Investigators recommended that x­radiation safety programs be devel­oped and that regular training on x-radiation and safe work practices be provided to baggage screeners. HHE Program investigators also recommended improved mainte­nance of equipment and that managers work with manufacturers to improve the design of EDS machines. Additionally, investigators recommended that health and safety communication between managers and employees be improved at each airport. The final report is available at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2003-0206-3067.pdf. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aircraft Occupational Health Radiation Radiography Safety
• Keywords:
  Airport-personnel Airport Screeners Author Keywords: Other Airport Operations Explosive Detection Systems Humans Ionizing-radiation Ionizing Radiation Low-level Radiation Exposure Radiation-exposure Region-3 Work-practices X-ray-absorption X-ray-equipment X-rays

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• ISSN:
  1077-3525
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20035660
• Citation:
  Int J Occup Environ Health 2009 Apr; 15(2):229
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  488119 - Other Airport Operations - (NAICS)
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3e6b2119fa2b98ae2eade18bd124941920bbdfaebc0c84b11c5b55d048bc7cd420551aa752c88844f3fc2851ea6067fa1d04c2bf9b018ea93bc6d1cf55122683
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187454/cdc_187454_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 426.90 KB ]