Staff exposure to ionizing radiation in a major trauma centre

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present paper was to determine the safety of staff members with regard to ionizing radiation in a major trauma centre in a 19-month period. METHODS AND RESULTS: A group of five doctors, five nurses and a trauma orderly wore personal radiation monitors under lead aprons while at work. The highest individual cumulative result after 586 days was 0.18 mSv for a nurse. If the exposure rate to ionizing radiation was constant, this would be equivalent to 0.114 mSv per year. Therefore the results are well below the recommended occupational dose limit of 20 mSv per year. CONCLUSION: Wearing of lead aprons during trauma resuscitation appears to be safe and provides adequate protection.