FOHCUS

Radiation Medicals

Every day in the UK, a wide range of radiation types are used in industrial, medical, research and communications applications. Some of these applications cause harmful exposure risks that employers must effectively control.

Radiation is usually classed as either ‘ionising’ or ‘non-ionising’. Examples of ionising radiation would be X-rays and gamma rays, whereas non-ionising radiation examples include radiofrequency and microwaves, infra-red, and ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Ionising radiation is dangerous because it causes dermatitis, burns, cell damage, cataracts, and changes to the blood. UV light can cause skin burns, skin cancer and conjunctivitis, and lasers can cause severe, irreversible damage to the eyes and skin.

Once employers have identified all sources of ionising and non-ionising radiation in the workplace and the risks they pose, they must be controlled.

It’s important to consider whether staff should be subject to medical surveillance – and this is where FOHCUS can help. Call us to discuss radiation medicals for your employees.