OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1096 - Ionizing Radiation Standard

In plain language

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ionizing radiation standard sets quarterly occupational dose limits, with the lens of the eye grouped in the 1¼ rem whole-body limit. It requires employers to provide dosimeters, keep exposure records, train workers and report overexposures. It is regulation, not research data.

At a glance

Type of study: Regulation or standard
Where: United States
Topics: Regulation and policy Dosimetry and monitoring Eye lens and cataracts Training and education
Summary based on: a web page

What it found

Quarterly dose limits in restricted areas are 1¼ rems for the whole body, which includes the lens of the eyes and the gonads; 18¾ rems for hands, forearms, feet and ankles; and 7½ rems for skin of the whole body.
Key figures: 1¼ rems per calendar quarter (whole body, including lens); 18¾ rems (extremities); 7½ rems (skin)
Employers may permit whole-body doses up to 3 rems per quarter if the cumulative occupational dose stays within 5(N-18) rems and adequate exposure records are kept.
Key figures: 3 rems per quarter; 5 (N-18) rems cumulative
Employers must supply personnel monitoring equipment and require its use by employees likely to exceed 25 percent of the quarterly limit, and by anyone entering a high radiation area.
Key figures: 25 percent of applicable limit
Employers must keep exposure records for monitored employees and tell each employee their individual exposure at least once a year. Former employees can request a report, which must be provided within 30 days.
Key figures: at least annually; within 30 days
Workers in radiation areas must be informed of the hazard and instructed in precautions or devices that minimize exposure.

Limits to keep in mind

This is regulatory text, not a study, and it provides no exposure data or health outcomes. Its limits use older units and quarterly periods, it is not specific to fluoroscopy, and it defers to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Agreement State rules for many employers.

EU BSS Summary for Health Professionals (2015, Regulation or standard)
EU-OSHA - BSS Directive Overview (Regulation or standard)
Accidents of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in radiology departments: risks, prevention, and management (2026, Narrative review)
Occupational Protection in Interventional Radiology. A Joint Guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology (2026, Guideline or consensus statement)
SCAI/ASE/HRS/SIR/SVS Expert Consensus Statement on Enhanced Radiation Protection: Time for Mandatory and Urgent Action (2026, Guideline or consensus statement)

How this summary was made

ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from a web page of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.

Prepared November 3, 2026.