ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is a safety principle designed to minimize radiation doses and releases of radioactive materials. More than merely best practice, ALARA is predicated on legal dose limits for regulatory compliance, and is a requirement for all radiation safety programs.
What is the basis for ALARA?
Radiation safety philosophy is based on the conservative assumption that radiation dose and its biological effects on living tissues are modeled by a relationship known as the linear hypothesis. Simply put, every radiation dose of any magnitude can produce some level of detrimental effects that may include increased risk of genetic mutations and cancer. With that in mind, ALARA aims to lower doses received by radiation workers using practical, cost-effective measures.
How is ALARA implemented?
An effective ALARA program requires a commitment from all relevant staff in your clinic or hospital: veterinarians and vet techs as well as any other personnel who work in proximity to your radiology equipment. To maintain doses As Low As Reasonably Achievable, make sure staff follow these three major safety principles:
1. TIME—Minimize the time of exposure.
2. DISTANCE—Double the distance between your body and the radiation source; this reduces the radiation exposure by a factor of 4.
3. SHIELDING—Use absorber materials such as Plexiglas® for beta particles and lead for X-rays and gamma rays.