U.S. Regulations & Guidelines
Resource Center

Navigate radiation protection regulations for healthcare workers in fluoroscopy labs across the United States

Explore the State Rules Map Explore the Hierarchy

New: the State Rules Map

What does your state require of fluoroscopy teams?

ORSIF read the rules in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and answered the same 14 questions for each: ALARA, dose limits, dosimeters, aprons and who may operate the equipment. Every answer links to its source.

20 of 41 Agreement States keep ALARA for X-ray users only in a rule shared with radioactive materials
0 states have adopted the 20 mSv eye-lens limit the ICRP recommends
17 states require protective aprons to be inspected on a schedule

Explore the map Find your state

An ORSIF research summary: not comprehensive and not always accurate. Every answer links to its source so you can double-check it.

What the map colors mean

Where in its rules each state addresses keeping doses as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) for X-ray users:

Only in a rule shared with radioactive materials22
In a shared rule and in X-ray-specific language18
In X-ray-specific rules5
No ALARA requirement found for X-ray users6

Understanding the Regulatory Hierarchy

Radiation safety for healthcare workers is governed by multiple overlapping levels of authority. Understanding who regulates what helps ensure compliance.

Federal Regulatory

OSHA, NRC, FDA, CDC/NIOSH

National laws and dose limits

State Regulatory

State Health Departments, Agreement States

State-specific licensing & requirements

Accreditation

Joint Commission, ACR, CAMPEP, ACRO

Hospital & facility standards

Professional Guidance

AAPM, ACR, ASRT, HPS, SIR, SCAI, and more

Best practices & guidelines

Institutional

Radiation Safety Officer, Radiation Safety Committee

Hospital policies & procedures

Individual Worker

Personal dosimetry, PPE, training

Your daily responsibilities

Dose Limits Quick Reference

Compare occupational radiation dose limits across regulatory authorities

Authority	Whole Body (Annual)	Eye Lens (Annual)	Extremities (Annual)	Pregnant Worker
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1096	5 rem (50 mSv)	1.25 rem/quarter	18.75 rem/quarter	N/A
NRC 10 CFR Part 20	5 rem (50 mSv)	15 rem (150 mSv)	50 rem (500 mSv)	0.5 rem total
ICRP Current Recommendations	20 mSv/yr avg	20 mSv/yr avg	500 mSv	1 mSv after declaration