medical coding training at home.
Most of us go through the day unaware that lurking above our heads or hallways may be devices that are radioactive. At the end of their life cycle, do these become items hazardous wastes for disposal? Which ones pose a health hazard to us? As taxpayers, we want to be able to look to the feds for our safety. While our government is supposed to authorize the safe levels of radioactive emissions from such devices, it seems the feds do not widely advertise the proper method of disposal of these same hazardous wastes.
Radiation is all around us. In the sun's ray, at the airport, on the cell phone, near the microwave. We heard as kids that too much of anything can't be good, and that applies to various levels of radio waves. The big three that we train on in the environmental services field are X-rays, Gamma rays, and Beta rays. Some rays can be protected against by something as simple as paper, and some need dozens of feet of dirt and concrete, or lead sheet. However, too much radioactive dosage at one time for a specific ray can cause acute or chronic burns to organs, genetic mutation, and possibly even a private invite to the Pearly Gates themselves!
While most homeowners in New England are aware today of the presence of Radon Gas that is emitted from the granite with which their cellar foundations are made, many are not aware that granite emits a bit of radioactivity as well. A property manager or homeowner would be wise to install Radon Gas detectors that can be purchased at any hardware store for the protection of the inhabitants. While Radon Gas is dangerous over a period of time, open ventilation is a simple enough way to rid the facility of any gas buildup. However, for radioactivity, a Geiger counter is required to check for levels of radioactive isotopes. Thankfully, over a long period federal and state oversight, there has not been sufficient evidence to show dangerous levels of radioactivity in most common granite buildings, and so we have not been focusing on that type of threat. In New England, many of the courthouses and public historic buildings were constructed of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire granite. Jokingly, we citizens thought maybe it was the radiation that was causing poor fiscal decisions at the Capitol, but sadly, no!
Radiation comes in many forms, and while the word is scary and carries visions of disfigured war victims, or some B-rate horror movie, we do not have to worry a great deal about the devices sold-over-the-counter at the local hardware store. Although a walk into a functional laboratory may reveal heavy radioactive isotopes used in experiments, most us will not ever encounter radioactive dosages to the extent of harming us. If we were to encounter such levels, it would be in a guarded setting and training would be mandatory by certified instructors. Medical doctors would be assigned to assess your exposure and detection devices would be issued for you to wear. These "badges" or "pens" would be read daily and your dosages would be accumulated and assessed. If you received more than was safe, you would be prevented access to the radioactive area again for a period of time specified by a Medical Doctor. In this setting, the corporation or public facility where you work is liable for your training, awareness, and safety.
Devices to be aware of that we may come across at home and work are smoke and fire detectors, the Fire Department approved "Exit" signs, luminescent displays, clocks, and phones. But as a general guideline, the layperson, homeowner, or property manager should ALWAYS review all labels underneath and/or around the device when preparing to dispose of ANY item. All radioactive devices sold legitimately in the United States today need to be labeled if carrying some amount of radioactive emissions. MLI Environmental is called upon occasionally to dispose of items when a building is being renovated, or possibly a new owner has purchased it. Sometimes, the "emitter" is operational, but another small electronic part of a device's design is faulty, making the whole device a piece of junk. These consumable items are so inexpensive to purchase, fixing them is more costly than disposal of the hazardous waste through us.
When we are called upon to take these items away, it is usually a quite a few at a time because we generally deal with private commercial property owners and corporations. They have a larger assigned budget that allows payment of these items. Sometimes, depending upon the market, an recycle facility will take these devices and fix and recycle them for resale. If this can't be done, then much of the time, the devices are accumulated at a federally registered facility licensed to store radioactive devices for an appropriate time. Before a deadline is reached, the facility consolidates these devices and ships them in bulk to a approved end-disposal facility, such as Barnwell. Here, they are basically set in a concrete container and buried deep in a secure chemical landfill that is federally monitored for safety and emissions. For the most part, home and normal office related devices are considered low-level and harmless to a great degree, but disposal other than a permitted receiver is not approved. Unfortunately, rather than pay for disposal, some "generators" opt to burn them, throw them in with their garbage, or "float test" them down the Kennebec River. These methods are dangerous to the rest of us and definitely not approved. We offer those having difficulty with disposal, various safe and legal options. If this is you, please call us and we can help you!
As a transporter, we bear a responsibility to our customers, and ourselves to abide by federal and state regulations when handling such hazardous waste and chemicals for disposal or recycling. A simple glance at a United States (US) Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Guidebook would reveal that of the 9 major hazard classes assigned by DOT for interstate commerce, one of the classes is Hazard Class Seven (7). That Class designated for Radioactive materials. As such, a sign, or placard, is also color coded and numbered for this class. DOT requires that a moving vehicle have these specific placards posted on all four sides of the box, or trailer, holding these class 7 items. These are the signs you see on commercial tractor trailers hauling hazmat every day on the interstate and local roads. We can, and are, pulled over at every open state weigh station for checks of our proper manifests, truck load, credentials, and paperwork.
Once again, it seems, the answer to keeping ourselves safe, is really up to the individual. Hazardous materials training and DOT hazmat training = Safety through self education. Our intent here at Maine Labpack, Inc. is "To make you environmentally aware, one blog at a time!" Call us if we can be of assistance.
medical coding training at home.