Which statement about operator position during X-ray exposure is true?

Which statement about operator position during X-ray exposure is true?

• A. Behind barrier
• B. In front of patient
• C. Next to X-ray tube
• D. On the patient's head

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is radiation safety: minimize exposure to the operator by using shielding and keeping out of the beam. The operator should stand behind a protective barrier during exposure because the barrier blocks or greatly attenuates both the primary X-ray beam and scattered radiation, reducing the dose that reaches the body. Being in front of the patient would put you in the path of the X-ray beam and exposure increases dramatically. Standing next to the X-ray tube would place you very close to the radiation source, increasing dose from the primary beam. Placing anything on the patient’s head is not a protective position and would not offer shielding or safety. So behind the protective barrier is the correct and safest position.

The main idea here is radiation safety: minimize exposure to the operator by using shielding and keeping out of the beam. The operator should stand behind a protective barrier during exposure because the barrier blocks or greatly attenuates both the primary X-ray beam and scattered radiation, reducing the dose that reaches the body.

Being in front of the patient would put you in the path of the X-ray beam and exposure increases dramatically. Standing next to the X-ray tube would place you very close to the radiation source, increasing dose from the primary beam. Placing anything on the patient’s head is not a protective position and would not offer shielding or safety.

So behind the protective barrier is the correct and safest position.