What are the requirements for taking x-rays in a veterinary hospital?
Inherent to medicine is the necessity to “see inside the body.” Radiography (x-ray) in veterinary hospitals, as in human hospitals, is a vital tool in the diagnosis of disorders and treatment of patients. It s important to remember that short duration, infrequent exposure to radiation, such as having radiographs taken of oneself, is accepted as an insignificant variable in overall health. However, long term exposure to low doses of radiation has been linked to genetic, cutaneous, glandular, and other disorders. High dose exposure can cause skin changes, cell damage, and gastrointestinal and bone marrow disorders that can be fatal. Fortunately, much is known about the properties of x-rays, and ways to protect ourselves and our employees. Although modern machines have many safeguards integrated in the design, there still exists the possibility of injury if these tools are misused. With this in mind, OSHA and many states of have set guidelines for minimizing the risks to workers. This are
