Back to Basics: Radiation Safety

Perioperative team members and patients are frequently exposed to radiation during operative and other invasive procedures. The use of equipment that emits radiation (eg, a fluoroscopy unit) is beneficial for diagnosing and treating patients but carries the risk of harm if team members do not follow radiation safety guidelines. Perioperative team members should implement safety precautions for themselves and their patients when radiation is used. This Back to Basics article addresses the basics of radiation safety and the precautions that perioperative team members should implement in the perioperative setting.