Radiation, a risk linked to the environment

Depending on the job and the sector, a worker is exposed to different types of risks, some directly related to safety or workload and others ergonomics.

However, there are also risks directly linked to the environment, such as exposure to radiation.

The radiation they are a type of physical pollutant which is a form of energy that can be present in the environment and cause various health damage.

Radiation is a form of energy transmission in waves and subatomic particles that can be natural or artificial.

The radiation they can be:

• Ionizers: High-frequency and high-energy radiation that may be present in different chemical elements such as uranium and in nuclear power plant facilities, as well as in X-rays. Workers who perform work exposed to these radiations are at serious health risk, possibly suffering vomiting, malformations in offspring, cellular alterations, and even cancer as a result of these artificial radiations.
• Non-ionising: They have low energy and do not cause as much damage to health as the previous ones, being much more common and are the ones we endure every day when using the mobile phone or the microwave. They are common in foundries and industrial furnaces, among others.

How to Prevent Ionizing Radiation

As a preventive measure to avoid problems arising from exposure to chemicals ionizing radiation it is essential that workers receive adequate training, but also that they have Personal protective equipment adequate to be properly secured and protected.

However, even if they are equipped with uniforms, a number of preventive measures must be taken:

• Exposure time: The worker must remain exposed to the risk for a limited period of time, thereby reducing the chances of a health problem.
• Isolation of the work area: The working environment must be protected by portable lead plates and also by fixed coatings of the same material on walls and doors.
• Distance to focus: Whenever possible, the practitioner should use tools that allow him to work as far as possible from the focus of the risk. The danger zone must be properly signposted so that no unprotected person can pass through it.