personnel dosimetry Archives

27 Mar 2024

Airplane flight crew character design. Pilot and stewardess flat vector illustration

Flight Crews and Radiation Exposure

Flight crews are among the occupational groups most exposed to ionizing radiation, with an average annual effective dose surpassing that of other radiation-exposed workers in the United States, excluding astronauts.¹ This elevated exposure is primarily due to the high levels of cosmic radiation encountered at flight altitudes, which can pose significant health risks to pilots and cabin crew members.² In this blog post, we’ll explore the nature of cosmic radiation, its potential health effects, current exposure levels for aircrews, as well as the guidelines and regulations in place to ensure their safety.

What Is Cosmic Ionizing Radiation?

As we’ve touched on in a previous blog, cosmic ionizing radiation–or simply cosmic radiation–originates from beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, it consists of two main components: galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and solar particle events (SPEs).³^,⁴

Galactic Cosmic Radiation

GCR is a constant background radiation that permeates interstellar space, originating from distant stars and galaxies. It is composed primarily of high-energy protons (85%) and alpha particles (14%). There is also a small fraction of heavier nuclei (1%) ranging from lithium to iron and beyond. These particles span a wide energy range, and as a result some reach extremely high energies capable of penetrating deep into the Earth’s atmosphere and passing through aircraft shielding.⁵

Solar Particle Events (Solar Flares)

Solar particle events, on the other hand, are sporadic bursts of intense radiation associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections. During an SPE, the Sun ejects a large number of high-energy protons and other particles that can reach Earth within hours to days. While less frequent than GCR, SPEs can dramatically increase radiation exposure for flight crews, particularly those on polar routes where the Earth’s magnetic field provides less protection.⁶^,⁷

At higher altitudes, such as those typically encountered during air travel, the Earth’s atmosphere provides less shielding against cosmic radiation, resulting in increased exposure for flight crews and passengers.

Several studies that have investigated the difference in cosmic ray levels at various altitudes versus ground level found that the dose rate of cosmic radiation at a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet was approximately 10 times higher than at sea level.

The specific increase in cosmic ray exposure at higher altitudes is influenced by several factors, including the solar cycle (solar maximum vs. solar minimum), geomagnetic field strength, and also the path of the flight (polar routes are exposed to higher levels of cosmic rays). For example, during periods of high solar activity (solar maximum), the increased solar wind can actually shield the Earth from some cosmic rays, slightly reducing the exposure at high altitudes. Conversely, during a solar minimum, the cosmic ray intensity can be higher.

Estimates of the number of hours that have to be flown in order to receive an effective dose of 1 mSv at 30,000 feet are 510 hours at a latitude of 30^o South and 1,330 hours at the equator.⁸

Health Effects and Uncertainties

The health risks associated with radiation exposure are generally well-documented. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radiation can increase the risk of cancer, cataracts, as well as other adverse health effects. However, quantifying the specific risks associated with the chronic low-dose radiation experienced by flight crews remains a challenge.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) acknowledges that ionizing radiation causes cancer in humans and is also associated with reproductive problems. However, when it comes to cosmic ionizing radiation, several uncertainties remain:

Cancer Risk: Most radiation health studies have focused on groups exposed to much higher doses from different types of radiation (such as atomic bomb survivors or patients receiving radiation therapy).⁹ Due to this, the specific link between cosmic ionizing radiation and cancer risk is not yet fully understood.
Reproductive Health: Miscarriages and birth defects related to cosmic radiation exposure are still not definitively established.¹⁰

Despite the limitations of current research, several studies have suggested that flight crews may have a higher incidence of certain cancers compared to the general population. These include breast cancer, melanoma, as well as non-melanoma skin cancers.¹¹^,¹² However, the causal link between cosmic radiation exposure and these increased risks has not been definitively established. Other factors, such as lifestyle and genetic predisposition, may also play a role.¹³

Exposure Levels for Flight Crews

Recent dose and risk assessments by a wide variety of investigators have demonstrated the need to dedicate further attempts to quantify potential radiation exposure.¹⁴ The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) reports an average annual effective dose of 3.07 mSv for flight crews; most of this exposure comes from natural radiation:

Estimates of annual aircrew cosmic radiation exposure range from 0.2 to 5 millisieverts (mSv) per year depending on factors such as flight routes, altitude, and solar activity.
Solar particle events occur less frequently, but during events, exposure levels can increase substantially and potentially lead to higher doses over short periods.

Guidelines and Regulations

While there are no official dose limits specifically for aircrew in the United States, national and international guidelines provide context:

International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP): Recognizes aircrew as radiation-exposed workers. They also recommend an effective dose limit of 20 mSv per year averaged over 5 years (totaling 100 mSv in 5 years) for radiation workers. However, for the general public, the recommended limit is 1 mSv per year.¹⁵
Pregnant Aircrew: The ICRP recommends a dose limit of 1 mSv throughout pregnancy.¹⁶

Current regulations aim to limit radiation exposure for flight crews, but there is room for improvement. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) sets guidelines for radiation protection and also includes dose limits for occupational exposure. However, these guidelines may not adequately address the unique challenges faced by flight crews. To improve current radiation safety regulations for aircrews, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This should include:

Improved Monitoring and Data Collection

Implementing advanced radiation monitoring systems on aircraft in addition to encouraging the use of personal dosimeters by flight crews can provide more accurate and comprehensive data on exposure levels¹⁷. This information can help refine risk assessments as well as guide the development of more effective protection strategies.

Aircraft Shielding and Design

Continued research into advanced shielding materials in addition to aircraft design modifications can help reduce the radiation dose received by flight crews and passengers¹⁸. This may also involve the use of novel composite materials or the incorporation of additional shielding in critical areas of the aircraft.

Route Optimization and Flight Planning

By carefully planning flight routes and altitudes, airlines can minimize exposure to cosmic radiation, particularly during solar particle events¹⁹. This may also involve rerouting flights to lower latitudes or reducing flight time at higher altitudes when necessary.

Education and Awareness Programs

Providing flight crews with comprehensive information about the risks of cosmic radiation exposure in addition to the importance of proper protection measures can empower them to make informed decisions about their health and safety²⁰. This should include training on the use of personal protective equipment, such as dosimeters, as well as guidelines for managing exposure during pregnancy.

Regulatory Harmonization and Enforcement

Strengthening international collaboration to harmonize radiation protection standards for flight crews in addition to ensuring consistent implementation and enforcement of these standards across the aviation industry can help create a safer working environment for all aircrews²¹²¹.

Conclusion

Although no regulations officially set dose limits, radiation exposure is still a concern to be evaluated for airplane flight crews due to their occupational exposure to cosmic radiation. While the specific health risks associated with this chronic low-dose exposure remain uncertain, continued efforts are essential ensure a safe working environment. By implementing measures such as personal dosimetry devices, increased monitoring, staff training, and encouraging airplane manufacturers to consider shielding and design modifications, airlines can better protect their flight crews. Ensuring a safer career for every radiation worker will require time, dedication, and collaboration. However, the benefits for the health and safety of all industries, including aircrews, make it a worthwhile endeavor.

Versant Physics is a full-service medical physics and radiation safety consulting company based in Kalamazoo, MI. Contact us for all of your regulatory, radiation safety, and personnel dosimetry needs.

Sources

Friedberg, W., & Copeland, K. (2003). What aircrews should know about their occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. Oklahoma City, OK: Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration. ↩︎
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. (2008). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation: UNSCEAR 2008 report to the General Assembly, with scientific annexes. New York: United Nations. ↩︎
Validation of modelling the radiation exposure due to solar particle events at aircraft altitudes. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, Volume 131, Issue 1, August 2008, Pages 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncn238 ↩︎
Wilson, J. W., Townsend, L. W., Schimmerling, W., Khandelwal, G. S., Khan, F., Nealy, J. E., & Norbury, J. W. (1991). Transport methods and interactions for space radiations. NASA Reference Publication, 1257 ↩︎
O’Sullivan, D. Exposure to galactic cosmic radiation and solar energetic particles. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2007;125(1-4):407-11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17846031/ ↩︎
Turner, R. E. (2007). Solar particle events from a risk management perspective. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 127(1-4), 534-538. ↩︎
Lantos, P., & Fuller, N. (2003). History of the solar particle event radiation doses on-board aeroplanes using a semi-empirical model and Concorde measurements. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 104(3), 199-210. ↩︎
Cosmic Radiation Exposure for Casual Flyers and Aircrew, https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-sources/flying-and-health ↩︎
National Research Council. (2006). Health risks from exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation: BEIR VII phase 2 (Vol. 7). National Academies Press. ↩︎
CDC – Aircrew Safety and Health – Cosmic Ionizing Radiation – NIOSH Workplace Safety & Health Topics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aircrew/cosmicionizingradiation.html ↩︎
Pukkala, E., Aspholm, R., Auvinen, A., Eliasch, H., Gundestrup, M., Haldorsen, T., & Tveten, U. (2003). Cancer incidence among 10,211 airline pilots: a Nordic study. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 74(7), 699-706. ↩︎
Rafnsson, V., Hrafnkelsson, J., & Tulinius, H. (2000). Incidence of cancer among commercial airline pilots. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 57(3), 175-179. ↩︎
Hammer, G. P., Blettner, M., & Zeeb, H. (2009). Epidemiological studies of cancer in aircrew. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 136(4), 232-239. ↩︎
Olumuyiwa A. Occupational Radiation Exposures in Aviation: Air Traffic Safety Systems Considerations. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace. Published online 2020. doi:https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1476 ↩︎
International Commission on Radiological Protection. (2007). The 2007 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Annals of the ICRP, 37(2-4), 1-332. ↩︎
International Commission on Radiological Protection. (2000). Pregnancy and medical radiation. Annals of the ICRP, 30(1), iii-viii, 1-43. ↩︎
Bartlett, D. T. (2004). Radiation protection aspects of the cosmic radiation exposure of aircraft crew. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 109(4), 349-355. ↩︎
Wilson, J. W., Miller, J., Konradi, A., & Cucinotta, F. A. (1997). Shielding strategies for human space exploration. NASA Conference Publication, 3360. ↩︎
Copeland, K. (2014). Cosmic radiation and commercial air travel. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 162(3), 351-357. ↩︎
International Civil Aviation Organization. (2012). Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine. https://www.icao.int/publications/Documents/8984_cons_en.pdf ↩︎
International Atomic Energy Agency: Cosmic radiation exposure of aircrew and space crew. https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/20/11/rasa-cosmic.pdf ↩︎

21 Feb 2023

Medical CT or MRI or PET Scan Standing in the Modern Hospital Laboratory. Technologically Advanced and Functional Mediсal Equipment in a Clean White Room.

Uncategorized Versant Physics 0 comment

4 Ways to Protect Healthcare Workers from Scatter Radiation

Patient safety is a major focus of radiation treatments and diagnostic imaging procedures. However, radiation workers in the healthcare field are also at risk for exposure to unsafe amounts of radiation—primarily scatter radiation—due to the nature of their work.

Protecting healthcare workers from scatter radiation is an important part of a successful radiation safety program. In today’s blog post, we discuss what scatter radiation is, effects on the human body, and four ways to help limit occupational exposures.

What is scatter radiation?

During typical diagnostic imaging procedures such as fluoroscopy, CT, or mammography exams, healthcare workers are exposed to scatter radiation.

X-ray machine for scatter radiation primary source example

Scatter radiation is a type of secondary radiation.¹ It occurs when the primary beam from a source such as a CT Scanner, X-Ray, or Fluoroscopy unit interacts with matter. For scatter radiation, the “matter” that X-ray beams are most often interacting with is the patient in a procedure. As the primary beam intercepts the patient’s body tissues, some X-rays will bounce off those atoms to create secondary, specifically scatter, radiation.

Scatter radiation can be moderated through some machine positioning, like the C-Arm. The primary beam for a C-Arm is sent up through the table into a patient before being read by the other side of the machine. In this case, the back scattered radiation produced by the entrance beam below the table is mostly towards the floor and lower extremities of the radiation worker. Scatter coming out of the exit radiation from the patient is also present but reduced in intensity as compared with the entrance scatter below the table. Not all units are designed in this manner, however, and these scattered rays will be present in the imaging room until the diagnostic x-ray machine is turned off.²

What are the effects of scatter radiation on the human body?

Professionals performing diagnostic imaging procedures, such as radiologic technologists, are those most susceptible to scatter radiation emanating from a patient. Scatter radiation does not have as much energy as a primary X-ray beam does but over time it still can cause harm without technologists taking appropriate protective measures. This is a real risk for radiation workers, as they are potentially exposed to scatter radiation multiple times a day while running patients through their diagnostic imaging.

Without appropriate protection, radiation workers will begin to experience adverse health effects from prolonged scatter radiation exposure. This is because radiation has the potential to damage living tissue and organs.³ Severity of damage scope is dependent upon several factors:

the manner and length of time exposed
characteristics of the exposed person
the type of radiation
any involved radioactive isotopes
the sensitivity of affected tissue and/or organs

Since scatter radiation exposure is at lower energy and accumulated over longer periods of time (because technologists are performing X-ray procedures as a daily task), the risks of adverse effects are not as severe. However, radiation workers face an increased risk of cancer over a lifetime if protection is not made a priority in the workplace.⁴

Protection from your occupational exposure

Radiation worker protection should take as much priority as patient protection when it comes to radiation exposure. The ALARA principle is the standard for keeping radiation exposure “As Low As Reasonably Achievable”. As such, following these practices would be our top recommendation for limiting occupational exposure, with a couple additions. Here are the four ways to be best protected from scatter radiation:

Time

Limit the time that you spend near a radiation source while working. The more time that you are exposed to scatter radiation increases the possibility for a higher overall dose. If you must work near a source of radiation, work as quickly as possible and then leave the area to avoid spending more time around the source than necessary.

Distance

The second ALARA principle, distance, encourages distancing yourself from radiation sources. Radiation exposure decreases with distance, following an inverse square law for a point source. Doubling your distance will cause dose rate to go down by a factor of four. A “general rule of thumb” you can calculate is that any scatter radiation one meter from the side of the patient will be 0.1% of the primary x-ray beam intensity.⁵ This is helpful to keep in mind when considering how much distance you’re able to maintain during patient treatments.

Shielding

Shielding is the well-known practice of placing a barrier between you and a radiation source for minimizing exposure. The material for these barriers normally depends on radiation source type. For any radiation, though, the shielding should be something that absorbs radiation such as lead, concrete, or water. The practice of shielding can also include personal protective equipment (PPE) directly worn by individuals, such as thyroid shields, radiation protection glasses, and lead vests. For scatter radiation, a combination of moveable shields either suspended from the ceiling or on rollers in addition to fixed table shields are ideal.⁶ In general, shields are placed close to the source as that allows for a greater solid angle to be covered.

Dosimetry Program

As medicine and medical technology advances, the use of radiation has become more ubiquitous; there is now a greater risk of ionizing radiation exposure for occupational workers. The need for effective radiation monitoring has become more crucial to account for these modern practices.

Radiation dosimeters worn on the body are able to provide a record of absorbed dose from ionizing radiation. Although the measurement of exposure so obtained is not direct protection, being able to track your absorbed dose is essential to the practice of radiation safety. Through regular dose readings, you can know if you’ve reached or are close to reaching the annual NRC occupational dose limits. In the long run, this is a great method for protection against scatter radiation; should you exceed dose limit, you can adjust your work for the rest of the year to avoid further exposure. Thanks to dosimetry programs, radiation workers can stay informed and avoid potential risks better than ever.

The Take-Away

Scatter radiation, even if not as potent as a primary radiation dose, can still have adverse effects over time. To avoid potential increases to your risk of cancer down the road, it’s essential to maintain protective habits when performing diagnostic imaging procedures. Following the ALARA principles and remembering the long-term value of a dosimetry program can keep exposure to scatter radiation and its negative health effects to a minimum.

Versant Physics’ dosimetry management services are available to help your company take that step further in scatter radiation protection. Learn more about our knowledgeable support team and the Instadose family of dosimeters today. For more information regarding shielding, scatter radiation, and applicable policies for a medical radiation safety officer, try our online MRSO or Medical X-Ray courses.

References

What is primary radiation and secondary radiation? Reimagining Education. Published August 26, 2022. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://reimaginingeducation.org/what-is-primary-radiation-and-secondary-radiation/
Lambert K. hps.org. Health Physics Society. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q11396.html
Radiation and health. Who.int. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-and-health
Morgan WF, Sowa MB. Non-targeted effects induced by ionizing radiation: mechanisms and potential impact on radiation induced health effects. Cancer Lett. 2015;356(1):17-21. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2013.09.009
Lovins K. hps.org. Health Physics Society. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q11780.html
Klein LW. Proper Shielding Technique in Protecting Against Scatter Radiation. Vascular Disease Management. Published June 2021. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/vdm/commentary/proper-shielding-technique-protecting-against-scatter-radiation

05 Jan 2023

2023 Happy New Year Banner with blue gradient background

Medical Physics, Odyssey Software, Personnel Dosimetry, Radiation Safety, Radiation Therapy, Uncategorized Versant Physics 0 comment

A Year in Review & New Resolutions

Coming full circle to another new year invigorates millions. It is a time to reflect and develop goals for a better self, career, or quality of life. Versant Medical Physics & Radiation Safety also looks eagerly into 2023 and new opportunities of growth. We strive to provide our services to continuously benefit existing or future clients—even while appreciating our building-block actions of 2022. Even as our teams replace calendars in the office and spread poor puns about not seeing each other since last year, we shape our goals to provide exceptional support for healthcare providers to ensure safe workplaces and practices:

Remaining at the Forefront of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety

Sometimes the best resolution is to maintain healthy habits achieved from the year before. Versant Physics will continue its focus on sustaining its status as a trusted, knowledgeable business. Our consulting services demonstrate excellence within medical physics and radiation safety and will continue to in 2023. This involves keeping up with new discoveries in science, seeking value-add opportunities, and ensuring our provided support is top quality. It is with this idea that we strive to keep our competitive edge in all aspects.

Maintaining an edge means aligning ourselves with strong sources when the chances arise. In the past year, Versant acquired Radiological Physics Services, Inc (RPS) and completed a business merger with Grove Physics, Inc. We were excited to welcome Joseph Mahoney from Grove Physics as the new Vice President of Diagnostic Physics. Additionally, Versant brought in the talents of Ray Carlson and his team within RPS. The overall consolidation of these companies’ resources with Versant’s has increased services towards our clients. We are enthusiastic about efficiently using these combined assets to their full potential in 2023.

Another constituent to higher performance levels becoming achievable in the new year is that Versant Medical Physics achieved their ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification in 2022. This certification demonstrates our dedication to being a trusted source. Not only can we be sought for our expertise in the field, but now to maintain personal information and customer data through even better safeguards in 2023. Being certified for strict security and compliance standards allows for peace of mind to clients using our Odyssey software; the protection of which is performed by our own security management team.

As a web-based, modern management system, Odyssey’s enhanced security is not its only feature that is being refined. Odyssey is kept as a radiation software suite that our clients can trust for the central administration of radiation safety programs. This is accomplished by our development team’s dedication to the software’s continuous improvement based off internal and external feedback. Radiation safety programs can quickly become complex and difficult to manage for healthcare companies, large or small. In addition to Versant’s experienced personnel, Odyssey provides clients an all-in-one platform to manage their program more easily and effectively. Within 2023, Versant’s development team will be focusing on projects to publish customizable reports. They will also revamp the centralized audit logging in Odyssey as part of software enhancement requests received through the feedback system.

Radiation Safety Implementation and Maintenance

Radiation safety has an extensive list of requirements and regulations set through organizations such as the NRC. The necessity of radiation safety programs is unquestionable when working with radioactive substances or ionizing radiation generating equipment. However, the issue remains that implementation and maintenance of these programs can become complicated fast. In 2023, Versant Medical Physics will assist healthcare providers simplify program compliance, protecting their employees and overall business.

Versant provides a variety of services, from dosimetry management to the support of our physicists, Radiation Safety Officers, and specialists. These professionals’ collective years of experience range over key modalities of radiation safety:

Any company—regardless of size—can run their badge program through our dosimetry monitoring services. Doing so assures access to our competent technical support team that can accommodate any company’s needs. Dosimetry badge management is top priority for this team to make your program easier to handle. The support team provides technical and customer service to your employees, so they understand best practices for the dosimeters they wear and to simplify compliance. This lets your employees quickly get back to what they do best: providing healthcare to those who need it.
Versant Medical Physics has board-certified physicists that cover regulatory and diagnostic services across the board. Versant’s physicists are driven to provide top-tier assistance so that our clients meet regulatory guidelines and ALARA fundamentals easily to protect people: employees, patients, and the general population. We will continue to achieve this in 2023 through provision of full-service support for your company’s radiation safety program’s crucial areas. These services can include but are not limited to equipment testing, radiation shielding and design, and comprehensive audits.

Medical Physics and Radiation Safety Certification and Training Support

Another component of medical physics and radiation safety is requirement (depending on role) of being certified for one’s work. Certifications in this field surround topics such as radioactive material handling in a continually evolving medical field. Our online continuing education training courses are available at any time to earn certifications approved by CAMPEP, AAHP, and ASRT. Many professionals within the medical physics and radiation safety fields need continuing education credits; this can be for compliance purposes or to take on new responsibilities within their company. In addition to providing support for our clients, Versant provides certified courses such as

Medical Radiation Safety Officer (MRSO) Training – Compliance knowledge and lectures provided to learn day-to-day requirements for a new Medical RSO. This course has been complimented for its clarity and precision of material.
Medical X-Ray Radiation Safety Training – Designed for anyone managing a radiation safety program or working with radiative machines in a medical environment. This course is practical and informative to prepare for any inspection.
Fluoroscopy Courses – Safety training that details optimization of fluoroscopy techniques while maintaining ALARA practices. This course has been recognized by previous customers for being comprehensive with employable practices.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Training – A combination of safety training for radioactive material transport and general handling. Usable for anyone within the shipping process such as technologists.

Our board-certified physicists are available through online communication to assist with questions or understanding of the content. This ensures that students feel supported through the process. By the end, each student can walk away with an accredited certification for the betterment of their career. Versant Medical Physics will ensure this content reaches as many people as possible to deepen their knowledge base in 2023.

Over the last decades, social media became an increasingly significant channel of communication for businesses. As a platform to promote their services and generate brand, companies connect in fashions more popular with the public. Although Versant has seen increases in our reach through social media followings and to the visitors of our website, there are still opportunities to further connect with our fellow companies, clients, and acquaintances within the medical physics and radiation safety fields.

In 2023, Versant Physics will bring a stronger focus into revitalizing our most popular channels for engaging content: our blog and podcast. Versant’s blog is a space for informational posts about radiation in the world and its various practices/safe handling in healthcare, as well as general tutorials on our Odyssey software. With the VersantCast Podcast, hosted by our very own medical physicist, Dr. Eric Ramsay, we take our listeners through various topics surrounding radiation, physics, and healthcare with the expansive knowledge of special guests. We are excited to work back into periodic postings and create subject matter that informs, inspires, and educates both readers and listeners alike.

Versant will also strive to further our network through our most popular social media platforms, being LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Even as a small company in a niche field, social media gives us the opportunity to connect with other people and businesses within the medical physics and radiation safety industry. Creating spaces to share ideas and new discoveries in science are beneficial to us as well as our followers to further our security in the knowledge surrounding the many fields that handle radiation. To join Versant in our goal to be more connected within the industry, you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

A Leadership Team that Inspires

Our devoted leadership team’s optimistic goals have shaped the future of Versant Medical Physics since 2016 to bring today’s success. Closing out our list of resolutions, our members of leadership provided what they strive to see to fruition in 2023:

Marcie Ramsay – President, CEO

“As president, I hope to continue providing a positive and supportive workplace environment for our professionals. The new year will also bring the opportunity for me to encourage our team to explore new areas of personal interest and work-life balance through Versant Physics’ recent subscription to the online education platform, MasterClass. On a personal note, I intend to devote more time to daily meditation and reflection.”

Eric Ramsay – Vice President, Commissioning

“Techniques for treatment in Radiation Therapy get more complex each year. Keeping up one’s knowledge base and gaining expertise in new modalities is challenging with a busy schedule. So, a suitable (and frankly, essential) resolution for the new year will be to focus on continuing education and professional development. This involves staying up to date with the latest research and techniques in the field, attending conferences and workshops, as well as seeking out opportunities for collaboration and networking with other professionals including the staff physicists at Versant. This resolution also includes taking steps to maintain a healthy work-life balance as burn out doesn’t help anyone.”

Ben Ramsay – Vice President, Technology & Finance

“Continue to develop a security mindset. With the increase in cyberattacks globally, and the risks internal and external to Versant, establishing a security-focused mindset is one of our goals in line with our ISO 27001 certification. I will also be focusing on improvement of Odyssey usability for existing clients and ways to bundle the software into our services with non-Odyssey customers that will provide enhanced value. Lastly, Versant will benefit from focuses on cross training staff in 2023 so that we are more flexible and capable of maintaining the highest levels of service possible.”

Joseph Mahoney – Vice President, Diagnostic Physics

“In 2023, I will be aiming for improved frequency and clarity of our client communication. Staying up to date and responsive towards the ever-changing regulatory environment will also allow for a strong start into the new year. Aligning with Versant’s desire for our teams to maintain work-life balances, there will be a strong focus in optimization of physical presence for our staff of physicists in geographic regions only where they are most needed so that they all can get back home more often.”

Cheers to a productive and exciting 2023!

24 Aug 2022

Dosimetry, Instadose+, Personnel Dosimetry, Radiation Safety, Radiation Safety Officer Versant Physics 0 comment

The 3 Best Personnel Dosimeters: Which Should You Choose?

Continual advances in medicine and medical technology have introduced a greater risk of exposure to ionizing radiation for occupational workers. This has increased the need for effective radiation monitoring services which are a key component of a compliant, well-run radiation safety program.

The problem for most new radiation safety officers is the sheer number of dosimeter types to choose from. How do you know which is the best personnel dosimeter for your radiation safety program? When should you consider phasing out your program’s existing dosimeters for something new?

To help you make your decision, we’ve put together this expert guide on the 3 best personnel dosimeters, their applications, and general specifications.

Instadose+ Wireless Dosimeter

The Instadose+ dosimeter badge is one of the best ways to effectively track cumulative dose for high-risk employees.

These revolutionary electronic dosimeters utilize Bluetooth technology, Direct Ion Storage (DIS), and SmartMonitoring to wirelessly and remotely transmit on-demand dose data. Mobile devices, such as a smartphone or tablets, as well as PCs or hotspot stations, are used to transmit and record the readings to the wearer’s private account.

The Instadose+ is the best personnel dosimeter for occupational workers like:

Healthcare workers
Nuclear medicine professionals
Chiropractors
Veterinarians
Power plant employees
Military personnel
Flight attendants
Lab assistants

Instadose+ badges have a useful dose range of 1 mrem – 500 rem (0.01 mSv – 5 Sv) and a minimum reportable dose of 3 mrem (0.03 mSv).

Energy response:

Photon 5 keV – 6 keV

Instadose+ badges are ideal for occupational workers who want access to their own data at the drop of a hat. The digital read-outs are recorded on a regular basis in accordance with the needs of the radiation safety program. This means no off-site processing.

TLD/OSL Dosimeters

The Genesis Ultra TLD-BP is a lightweight, eco-friendly, thermoluminescent dosimeter. It consists of two parts: a sealed blister pack, which protects the TLD’s internal components, and a separate holder with a clip for attaching to the collar or waist. The TLD also comes with a unique serial number that makes reassigning and tracking an individual’s occupational dose easier.

This personal dosimeter is useful for occupational workers with potential exposure to gamma, beta, neutron, or X-ray radiation. It can be used in a wide range of applications, including:

Nuclear medicine facilities
Medical imaging centers
Diagnostic research facilities
Hospitals
Universities
Nuclear power plants
Industrial facilities

The Genesis Ultra TLD-BP has a minimum reportable dose of 1 mrem (0.01 mSv) and a useful dose range of 1 mrem – 1000 rad (0.01 mSv – 10 Gy).

Energy response:

Photon 5 keV – 6MeV
Beta 0.251 MeV – 5 MeV
Neutron (TLD): Thermal – 6 MeV

Unlike with the Instadose+ dosimeter, TLDs require off-site processing to obtain the dose information. This process requires an in-house staff person to collect the dosimeters from wearers, send them out for processing, and re-assign new badges on a regular basis.

Ring Dosimeters

Mirion’s durable extremity dosimeters, commonly referred to as ring dosimeters, are the best personnel dosimeter choice for individuals who perform interventional radiographic procedures or who regularly handle radioisotopes.

There are several different options to choose from, including:

These are ideal for measuring low or high energy beta, gamma, or X-ray radiation to the hands and fingers. These dosimeters pair well with the Instadose+, which measures radiation exposure to the whole body, particularly in research and surgical environments.

Depending on the ring badge, the wear period can last from one week up to six months. They also are comfortable to wear under surgical gloves.

So, Which Is the Right Dosimeter for Your Radiation Safety Program?

When choosing a dosimeter for your radiation safety program, we recommend considering the following:

Functionality and scope of use. How will it be worn and by whom?
The information you need the dosimeter to record. Do you need to track full body dose, or the dose received to the extremities, like the hands and fingers?
Quality. A higher quality better made dosimeter might cost more up front, but it will withstand continual use and record accurate radiation dose.
Processing Requirements. Do you have the administrative support to collect badges from employees, send them out for processing, and redistribute new badges on a regular basis? If not, you may require a digital dosimeter like the Instadose+ that does not require processing.

If you’re still unsure, you can reach out to our physicists for a personal consultation about the best personnel dosimeter for your program.

Personnel Dosimetry Management with Versant Physics

Here at Versant Physics, we are passionate about radiation safety, adhering to ALARA principles, and helping radiation workers feel confident their dose measurements are accurate.

Our team of experienced physicists and technical support specialists will work with you one-on-one to ensure every aspect of your badge program runs smoothly and efficiently.

With Versant managing your badge program, you can expect:

Unparalleled customer service and technical support. We take care of everything from the initialization of badges for new wearers to badge troubleshooting.

Quality badge administration. Our team manages high-dose reports, adding and removing wearers from the program, and communicates consistently with your RSO.
Effective compliance administration. Our effective badge management processes are proven to improve compliance, from read day reminders to comprehensive monthly reports.

Schedule a consultation with our dosimetry program management specialists to get started!

07 Feb 2022

Dosimetry, Instadose+, Personnel Dosimetry, Radiation Safety, Regulatory Versant Physics 0 comment

How to Increase Dosimetry Compliance Rates with Versant Physics Proven Management Process

One of the many responsibilities of a Radiation Safety Officer is to manage their facility’s personnel dosimetry program and monitor the exposures of the radiation workers employed there. This may seem like a simple task; however, it can be a challenge to get workers to wear and exchange/read their dosimeters in accordance with state and federal regulations. This leads many RSOs to wonder if it is possible to improve dosimetry compliance rates, particularly in large programs that have hundreds of occupationally exposed individuals to monitor.

With the right dosimeter and the right management process, improving dosimetry compliance rates is very possible, regardless of the size of your dosimetry program.

Below we explain the common problems associated with traditional methods of personnel dosimetry program management, as well as offer a solution for improving your dosimetry compliance rates without increasing costs or workload for your staff.

The Problem with Traditional Methods of Dosimetry Management

Dosimetry is one of the key elements of a radiation safety program, but it can also be one of the biggest headaches for Radiation Safety Officers and Environmental, Health, and Safety managers. There are several problems with traditional methods of dosimetry management that managers often encounter, including:

A time-consuming badge collection and redistribution process
High costs of running a badge monitoring program
Time between when an exposure or anomaly is received and when an individual is made aware of the exposure
Keeping track of historical dose reads and measurements
Efficient communication with wearers regarding read reminders, exceeding dose limits, and more

These problems can make an RSO feel as though they’re herding cats at worst and like they’re constantly one step behind at best. Juggling these many tasks within just one aspect of a radiation safety program, along with a variety of other responsibilities, it’s not hard to see why dosimetry compliance rates can be rather low.

Versant Physics Personnel Dosimetry Management

Versant Physics manages personnel dosimetry programs a bit differently. In addition to using top-of-the-line electronic dosimeters that utilize the latest monitoring technology, our team of badge specialists and physicists combines customer service, technical support, and quality administration tactics to manage everything your program needs to run successfully. From ordering new badges to ensuring wearers read their badges promptly, our team’s management process is proven and effective.

Versant Physics also utilizes their proprietary radiation safety software Odyssey to manage the personnel dosimetry programs of their clients.

Odyssey is a cloud-based software that features an entire module devoted to personnel dosimetry management. The module includes useful tools like a query builder for compiling data records and a Form Generator for easy management of Form-5s. The module also features a series of customizable widgets that allow users to visualize pre-set metrics in their program, including a User Watch List for wearers likely to exceed internal or annual dose limits, Read Activity, and Badges Communicated.

Instadose+ by Mirion Technologies

Personnel dosimetry programs managed by Versant Physics also utilize the Instadose+ dosimeter. These small, lightweight badges combine Bluetooth technology, Direct Ion Storage (DIS), and SmartMonitoring to wirelessly and remotely transmit radiation dose data. Mobile devices, such as a smartphone or tablet, as well as PCs or hotspot stations, assist with this process.

Each dosimeter has a built-in memory chip with a unique serial code that is assigned to the specific wearer. The badges are assigned long-term, meaning they do not need to be sent in for processing at the end of a monitoring period. Instead, wearers are responsible for reading their badges per the monitoring period set up by their radiation safety program.

Reading the badge is easy and takes less than a minute to complete from start to finish. Wearers typically read their badge by opening the Instadose+ app on their mobile device and holding down the button on the back of the dosimeter for 5 seconds, or until the light on the top of the badge turns green. Readings are then stored within their secure account.

The Instadose+ allows for unlimited, on-demand dose reads, so wearers can complete this process as often as they desire. Not only is this useful from a dose history standpoint, but it also gives wearers the power to view their current and historical dose reads from their online account anytime they want. If they have a question or a concern, the answers are already at their fingertips.

Overall, the Instadose+ simplifies dose reads and makes them more accessible to the individual worker and radiation safety officer. This allows for improved dosimetry compliance across the board.

Its user-friendly read process, historical dose transparency, and accurate, reliable readings are some of the reasons why it is a key player in Versant Physics’ badge management process.

Badge Administration

Our experienced technical support specialists are equipped to handle the entire badge management process. This includes ordering badges from the manufacturer to removing wearers from the program. They also handle:

Remote and/or in-person badge training
Initialization of badges
Vendor credentialing and attestation
On-site event support

Compliance Administration

Versant Physics assigns a physicist to each client to help drive program compliance. The physicist works with the program RSO to develop an effective plan for making sure wearers read their badges. In the event there is no program RSO, Versant Physics’ physicists can serve as in-house RSOs as well.

Together with the badge team, they are also responsible for:

Regular communication with wearers (weekly, monthly, or quarterly)
Read-day reminders
Non-communicated follow-up reminders
Comprehensive monthly compliance reports
Dose monitoring
High dose alerts
Dose discussions with RSOs/workers

Consistent communication with wearers is a necessary part of improving overall dosimetry compliance rates. Depending on the monitoring period set by the program RSO, Versant Physics sends out scheduled read-day reminder emails. They also send follow-up emails to those that have not read their badge.

Furthermore, RSOs and program leadership are always kept in the loop as to where their program currently stands. This is done through the use of a comprehensive monthly report.

Versant Physics monthly report displays badges that have not submitted a reading during the monitoring period. It also lists duplicate badges, lost and defective badges, as well as any new badges that were assigned in that month. The report provides status updates on mid-month follow-up with wearers, an active wearer list organized by location, and high dose reports as well.

This report paints a clear picture of program compliance month over month and helps pinpoint areas of concern. It also addresses program elements that could be improved upon in the following months.

Customer Service and Technical Support

When issues arise or wearers experience problems with their badges, Versant Physics’ team of technical support specialists are trained and ready to handle them promptly. They will help with:

Badge troubleshooting
Issuing replacement badges
Phone and email support

Additionally, wearers have access to the Versant Physics support desk, where they can submit questions or concerns with their badges 24/7. All requests submitted by wearers and program personnel receive a response within 24-hours.

A Note on Radiation Dose Limits

Versant Physics clients can set their own dose limits for their employees (within the regulatory limits) depending on what works best for their program.

For example, some clients prefer to set specific limits for single doses. Others have more lenient thresholds that are measured quarterly. Whatever your program’s monitoring preferences are, Versant Physics is prepared to help you implement and manage them.

The Takeaway

Versant Physics badge specialists, physicists, and technical support teams provide efficient badge management catered to the needs of your program. With the help of the Instadose+ dosimeter, Odyssey radiation safety software, and years of experience managing dosimetry programs of all sizes, we can work with you to help improve dosimetry compliance rates in your program.

Contact our team to learn more about our badge management process and pricing.

06 Oct 2021

Odyssey Personnel Dosimetry module dashboard

ALARA, Odyssey Software, Personnel Dosimetry Versant Physics 0 comment

Odyssey “How To” Series: Personnel Dosimetry Module

Join us for an interview with our Odyssey Implementation Analyst Katelyn Waters, where we discuss how to carry out certain functions of the Personnel Dosimetry module and answer some of your frequently asked questions.

Odyssey is a radiation safety software suite designed to help RSOs, EHS managers, and Radiation Safety Specialists manage affordable and efficient programs.

KB 00:10: Welcome to Part 1 of our Odyssey how-to series, where we highlight some frequently asked questions about the cloud-based radiation safety software suite and its application in real-world radiation safety programs. Over the next 12 weeks, we’ll be addressing each of Odyssey’s modules, and breaking them down to give a better idea of how they work. My name is KB, and today I’m joined by Odyssey Implementation Analyst Katelyn Waters to discuss the Personnel Dosimetry Module. Thanks for joining me, Katelyn!

Katelyn 00:37: Thanks KB, I’m happy to be here and hopefully we can help answer some of the frequently asked questions that we get for the Personnel Dosimetry module in Odyssey.

KB 00:46: So, the personnel dosimetry module is a key feature of the Odyssey platform. It features customizable widgets and reporting tools that help RSOs and EHS professionals managing a badge program do so in a very efficient way. But how exactly is dosimetry data made available in the module?

Katelyn 01:05: That’s an excellent question, and one of the first that we get whenever we are doing different demonstrations of the software. So, personnel dosimetry does support data from any vendor, but it is primarily designed for Mirion and Landauer. So what it actually does is the software uses a login to either AMP for Mirion or MyLDR for Landauer to view and import that dosimetry information into your account. And so this import happens automatically, we set it up to be daily for Mirion and monthly for Landauer, and so everything’s going to be automatically pulled into the software for you.

KB 01:43: If I have multiple dosimetry accounts can I use this module to manage them?

Katelyn 01:48: Yeah, absolutely. So, it is designed to help aid in the management of multiple accounts. So, whether those accounts are all through one vendor, being Mirion or Landauer, or if they’re from both vendors, this is very beneficial for managing those. You can change the dashboard, that’s what we’re currently looking at here for the module, and this dashboard is a quick at a glance view of your dosimetry account. And you can change what account you’re looking at from this first dropdown menu here that I’m hovering over currently, and you can also change it to look at specific locations or subaccounts, and that’s from the second dropdown menu here.

Additionally, we also have something called a Common Wearer Profile, and what that does is it’s going to combine dosimetry information from more than one account. So if you have a wearer that has a badge from both vendors, or maybe they have two badges that are under different locations or subaccounts, you can combine that information into one profile to make viewing that dosimetry history a lot easier for that wearer.

KB 02:50: So, if I wanted to add or remove any of those multiple badges on my account, can I do so from within Odyssey?

Katelyn 02:57: Yeah, great question. So, the actual addition or editing of any of the badges for wearers for your program will still take place in your vendor portal, whether that’s Mirion, Landauer, or another party. So this particular module is designed to give you some additional features that aren’t available in those vendor portals. Some of those features include ALARA reporting, easy form 5 access, different alerts and reminders, shipping, different management for some of those high-level activities that you’re going to need to do for your program.

KB 03:31: I see. What about this dashboard? Is it possible to change any of the information that’s displayed here?

Katelyn 03:38: Yes. I definitely recommend that when you start utilizing this module in the software that’s something you do right away because it makes it very beneficial for you, and you can do that by selecting this gear icon here, it’s going to take us to show us all of the settings. So each of these boxes we refer to as a widget, and each widget has its own settings for what you want to view on your dashboard. A good example here is the Recently Viewed widget in the top right-hand corner. I have what I want to see available for selection with these checkboxes, I have some drop-down menus for the number of things that I want to see here for the Read activity widget I can choose the time period… so depending on what it is they each have their own settings for these particular widgets, and that way you can really make it for what you need to see for your program.

In addition to that, you can also click and drag things to more prominently display them. So, if I want to have this graph of Read Activity–these are doses that are coming in each day–I can put this at the very top so I can see that a more prominent position. You can also hide things if they aren’t useful to your program. So, say you don’t want this recently viewed widget, I can select the eye icon and hide that and if I were to save these settings it would remove that from my dashboard. So, it’s very customizable.

KB 04:59: You mentioned read activity. Is there a place that I can see who hasn’t read their badge?

Katelyn 05:06: Yeah, so we have a query data section which I can actually go to and show you here. And this section allows you to do some really in-depth searches on your dosimetry data. You can choose to select what you want to search for, so with your example, I would go and search for different personnel, and ones that don’t have a badge reading. And then I come down to this section where it says Include or Exclude and I can choose things that I want to either include in my search or exclude from my search. And for us today, I’ll go ahead and add in an inclusion statement to include people for the current account that we’re looking at, just as an example, and then I can exclude people who have readings and we will only be left with those who do not, so I’ll go ahead and exclude people who have a reading for this year by putting in the date of January 1^st.

So we can hit this play button here and it’s going to then search through all of your dosimetry records and give you the corresponding data for your filters. Once it does so, you have a table result at the bottom. And so, the format of this data is a little odd due to the fact that we’re looking at primarily, or not primarily, exclusively demo data. So you can see the employee IDs are very long. But this is what the format of that table would look like for you, just have your own dosimetry data displayed in it.

And these are linked to other areas of the software. So for these wearers, I can actually select them to go to their profiles, and in addition, we have a list of contact information here that if you were to select this mail icon for it would actually put all of these people into a mailing list for you so you can easily communicate with them. So if we do want to reach out to this group and say hey, you need to please read your badge for 2021, you can do so by this easy feature there.

KB 07:02: Well that seems pretty easy to do. Is there any way for me to receive notification of individuals with high doses?

Katelyn 07:10: Absolutely. So that is actually one of my favorite features that we have added into the Personnel Dosimetry module and it exists in this reporting section. So I’ll go ahead and select that and we’ll take a look at that.

The reporting section has a tab called ALARA. The module has the ability to add in different custom ALARA thresholds. For this particular demo dosimetry account, we have two thresholds added in. I’ve added in an ALARA 1 and an ALARA 2. These are both quarterly thresholds but you can also have them trigger on a single dose, they can be monthly, quarterly, or annually. So, you have a variety of options there. They can also be scoped to particular badge regions that a badge is assigned to. Since these are quarterly thresholds, this next filter of the period gives me the option to choose a quarterly time period but that will change depending on your threshold. And if I do put in last quarter as an example and select run report, what that’s going to do is give me a table of results of individuals that have surpassed that threshold for the chosen time period. So we have these three demo people who have surpassed the ALARA 1 Threshold, and then one person additionally also surpassed the ALARA 2, so this table is really nice because if they did surpass other thresholds it will let you know that. So if you only want to follow up on the higher of the two you absolutely can do that.

It will tell you the time period that we’re covering currently, and then the cumulative dose for that time period, and then the stage that you’re at in the process. So this will allow you to email each of these individual wearers either notification that they went over this dose threshold or a questionnaire – that form that they actually get sent is completely customizable – and the wearer will receive that via email. Once they do, they will open and view that, if they have any questions they can fill that out, it requires a signature and dates it for them automatically, and then that gets sent back to Odyssey. Once it does get sent back, this pie chart progresses and shows you where this process is. So it will change to being yellow for “waiting for RSO response.” So if you’re an RSO, a radiation safety representative, you can come in here, review that questionnaire, and the responses, and sign off on that to complete the process.

And to get back to your initial question about alerts for these items, throughout this entire process you’re going to be receiving in-software alerts which can optionally be email alerts as well. So when a wearer initially goes over the threshold, any of these thresholds you have set up, you’re going to get an alert that looks like a post-it note like one of these. And then when they fill it out they also will trigger an alert and it’ll let you know they have it filled out so that way you can come in and review that as soon as possible. And so you’re always going to be notified of each stage of the process there as this progresses.

KB 10:07: Well that all sounds great! Thanks, Katelyn, for helping us address some frequently asked questions about Odyssey’s Personnel Dosimetry module. Join both of us next week for part 2 where we’re going to be talking about the inventory tracking module and its ability to assist with tracking radioactive materials in your radiation safety program.

Katelyn 10:26: Thanks, KB.

Schedule an in-depth demo with our Odyssey team to discuss how the software can assist you with your radiation safety management needs, or visit our website to learn more about Odyssey’s radiation safety modules.

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