Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume 20, Issue 7, Supplement , Pages S278-S283, July 2009

Occupational Health Hazards in the Interventional Laboratory: Time for a Safer Environment

  • Lloyd W. Klein, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Rush Medical College, 675 West North Avenue, Suite 202, Melrose Park, IL 60160
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to L.W.K.
    • ,
  • Donald L. Miller, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
    • ,
  • Stephen Balter, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
    • ,
  • Warren Laskey, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    • ,
  • David Haines, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Beaumont Hospitals, Royal Oak, Michigan
    • ,
  • Alexander Norbash, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Matthew A. Mauro, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
    • ,
  • James A. Goldstein, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Beaumont Hospitals, Royal Oak, Michigan
    • ,
  • Joint Inter-Society Task Force on Occupational Hazards in the Interventional Laboratory

Received 19 September 2008; received in revised form 30 September 2008; accepted 2 October 2008.

This document is a consensus statement by the major American societies of physicians who work in the interventional laboratory environment. It reviews available data on the prevalence of occupational health risks and summarizes ongoing epidemiologic studies designed to further elucidate these risks. Its purpose is to affirm that the interventional laboratory poses workplace hazards that must be acknowledged, better understood, and mitigated to the greatest extent possible. Vigorous efforts are advocated to reduce these hazards. Interventional physicians and their professional societies, working together with industry, should strive toward minimizing operator radiation exposure, eliminating the need for personal protective apparel, and ending the orthopedic and ergonomic consequences of the interventional laboratory work environment.

Abbreviation: :MSOHG, Multi-Specialty Occupational Health Group

 

 J.A.G. discloses a financial relationship with a company working on radiation protection systems. None of the other authors have identified a conflict of interest. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government.This article first appeared in J Vasc Interv Radiol 2009; 20:147–152.

PII: S1051-0443(09)00324-8

doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2009.04.027

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume 20, Issue 7, Supplement , Pages S278-S283, July 2009

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