The radiation safety industry has grown exponentially over the past 120 years. From the discovery of radium in 1898, through the U.S. government’s renewed focus on radiation safety during World War II, to the present day, countless people have devoted their lives to this noble pursuit. Among them, many women have helped blaze the trail to increase safety for those who work with radiation.

During the month of March, which is Women’s History Month, we will be highlighting the contributions of just a few of the women who have advanced the work of radiation safety for us all. As a woman in the industry myself, I have seen firsthand the importance of our role in helping to keep careful track of how much radiation dose is received by an individual. Many women in the industry have experienced or will experience a pregnancy, and we have a vested interest in keeping doses within the recommended range, which is no more than 5,000 mrem per year, and no more than 500 mrem during a woman’s gestational period.

So, what do we do to keep within those limits?

1. Shielding – Anyone who works with radiation must take proper precautions, using lead shielding as protection whenever possible.
2. Equipment maintenance – Machines that emit ionizing radiation — such as X-ray machines and computed tomography (CT) scanners — must be checked regularly to ensure they are working correctly.
3. Dosimeters – It’s imperative to wear a dosimeter to measure the amount of radiation to which you are exposed. The Instadose®+ dosimeter makes it easy to check your daily or cumulative dose on a mobile device or computer.

Women will continue to be a large part of advances in radiation safety, and I’m excited to see the changes we will make. Together, we can make this world a safer place! Be sure to check out our blog this month as we recognize the trailblazing and pioneering women who have contributed to radiation safety over the years.

Victoria Potuck
Regional Sales Manager at Mirion Technologies

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