OSHA’s Ionizing Radiation Page: A Resource Guide If you didn’t know, OSHA is working to help protect employees who are exposed to ionizing radiation as an effect of their job environments. Check out the OSHA ionizing radiation page for information on radiation standards, health effects, and control and prevention methods. Nov 07, 2019 Every person is exposed to natural background radiation; however, some workers are exposed to harmful ionizing radiation sources in the workplace. These radiation sources can be dangerous to employee health if not properly controlled. Luckily, OSHA has the Ionizing Radiation Safety and Health Topics webpage, and it includes everything employers should know about health risks, standards, and prevention methods to keep workers safe. This is incredibly important given that some workers simply cannot avoid radiation source at work. Occupational settings with ionizing radiation sources include: Medical and dental offices (e.g., X-rays). Hospitals and outpatient treatment centers, including specialty departments in: Radiology (e.g., medical X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans). Nuclear medicine. Radiation oncology. Interventional fluoroscopy or radiology. Cardiac angiography. Nuclear power plants (reactors) and their support facilities. Nuclear weapons production facilities. Industrial operations (e.g., radiography equipment for testing materials or products). Research laboratories (universities, colleges, and other scientific institutions). Veterinary facilities. Manufacturing settings and construction. Security operations. Air and space travel and transport (i.e., in-flight) operations, especially at high altitude. Workplaces with high levels of naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM), such as radon. Worksites with high levels of technologically enhanced naturally-occurring radioactive material (TENORM), such as uranium and other radioactive elements encountered during hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as “fracking”) as part of oil and gas well development. Let's block ads! (Why?)