Industrial radiation hazards. Understanding the regulatory licensing structure and protecting and training workers

More and more frequently, plants are relying on ionizing radiation equipment and materials to perform a variety of tasks, from examining welds to measuring tubing and pipe wall thickness. As a result, the number of workers who could be exposed to the radiation hazards that may develop from these devices continues to increase. Working safely with radioactive materials or equipment that generates radiation requires careful planning and proper training. The first article in this two part series (PE 9/29/83, p61, file number 7045) reviewed the types of ionizing radiation, hazard assessment, and instruments for measuring radiation and monitoring exposure. In this concluding article, the regulation and licensing of radioactive materials and radiation equipment used in industry are outlined, and steps for minimizing the hazards and training employees to work safely with radiation are presented