By Matthew Holloway |
Three bills addressing radiation exposure risks for health care workers moved out of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on unanimous votes Wednesday, advancing a legislative package sponsored by Sen. Carine Werner (R-LD4) focused on updating safety standards in high-radiation medical settings.
According to the Senate, the legislation would make Arizona the first state to mandate these protections by statute.
The bipartisan legislative package targets exposure risks associated with real-time X-ray imaging used in cardiac catheterization labs and other advanced procedure rooms.
The three bills that passed out of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee are:
- SB 1120, which would require hospitals that perform real-time X-ray procedures to install modern radiation protection systems in at least half of their procedure rooms by July 2027. These systems are designed to shield staff more effectively than traditional lead aprons and to track exposure levels in real time.
- SB 1121, which addresses the use of protective equipment and exposure monitoring during procedures. The bill specifies standards for radiation protection systems and would clarify how they replace or augment traditional protective gear such as lead aprons.
- SB 1118, which would create a grant program to assist rural hospitals and health care facilities with the costs associated with installing radiation protection systems. It is designed to mitigate geographic and budgetary barriers to compliance.
Werner has highlighted radiation exposure as an occupational hazard for doctors, nurses, and technicians who perform imaging-intensive procedures. Supporters of the legislation argue that updated shielding technology and exposure tracking could reduce long-term health risks for medical personnel.
In a statement, Werner said, “These are the people saving our lives every day, and too often they’re doing it at the cost of their own long-term health. We know the risk. We have the technology to reduce it. Now we’re taking action.”
“This is about protecting the people behind the scenes. The nurses. The techs. The doctors who don’t make headlines but make care possible,” Werner continued. “If these bills are signed into law, Arizona will lead the nation in recognizing that health care workers deserve the same protections as the patients they serve.”
The radiation protection systems referenced in the legislation are defined as shielding that offers protection at least equivalent to or better than a .25 millimeter lead-equivalent apron, according to the bill’s summary.
All three measures now head to the full Senate for consideration.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
