Types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare for Radiation
While working on improving radiation safety in healthcare, you’ll often see the term personal protective equipment (PPE) come up.
PPE is essential since it shields healthcare workers who are regularly exposed to radiation from equipment like fluoroscopy and C-arms. However, you’ll often see it come in different types and styles, and it’s common to feel overwhelmed while trying to select the appropriate protective garments for your facility.
We’ll provide you with an overview of the types of PPE in healthcare here, along with best practices to keep it safe and effective throughout its lifespan, so you can make educated decisions for health and safety.
Introduction: The Importance of PPE in Healthcare
PPE is essential for clinicians in radiology because of how often they’re exposed to radiation and the doses emitted from the imaging equipment used regularly.
For example, a study from the Korean Journal of Pain mentioned that C-arm fluoroscopy is used frequently in interventional surgery. While its use is vital because of its effectiveness, the radiation doses emitted from the equipment are high. Therefore, proper shielding and safety precautions are necessary for clinicians operating near it.
To put it in perspective, research from AORN showed that the average C-arm emits 20 mSv (2 rem) of radiation per minute. OSHA’s guidelines for radiation safety set an occupational dose limit of 12.5 mSv (1.25 rem) to the full body each quarter, so one minute of exposure could be enough to exceed that limit during certain procedures.
Fortunately, wearing different types of PPE in healthcare that shield exposed areas of the body can help reduce radiation doses significantly. For instance, a study from the Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma found that 0.5 mm lead aprons, vests, or skirts could reduce doses by 99%.
It’s a good idea to have a well-rounded personal protective equipment list in hospitals to ensure enough protection is available for different types of procedures that require shielding.
What Is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare?
What is PPE in healthcare? PPE refers to protective clothing and other garments that shield healthcare workers from hazards. One of the primary hazards in radiology is the radiation emitted from equipment such as fluoroscopy, C-arms, and X-rays.
Protective garments used in healthcare use dense shielding materials, such as lead, to help with this component. A study from the Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering stated that lead is an effective shielding material because its high density and high atomic number help slow and absorb radiation before it reaches the wearer’s body.
You’ll see different types of garments made to protect specific areas of the body exposed to radiation. For example, lead aprons cover the full torso and upper legs while thyroid shields cover the neck and sensitive thyroid gland.
The varying types of garments and uses are why you should ensure your personal protective equipment list is built to provide protection for healthcare workers in all use cases.
What Are the 5 Types of Personal Protective Equipment Used in Healthcare?
The 5 types of PPE in healthcare, specifically to protect from radiation, include:
Body protection: The most common body shielding options to protect from radiation are lead aprons, vests, or skirts that cover the torso and upper legs. A study from the Journal of Radiography showed that lead aprons can reduce radiation doses to crucial organs such as the breasts and spleen by 98-99.9%.
Eye protection: Eye protection from radiation can include wearing lead glasses or a full lead visor. A study from Physica Medica found that 0.75 mm lead glasses reduced radiation doses to the lens of the eyes by 1.6 times, and a full lead visor reduced doses by 4.5 times.
Hand protection: The most common shielding for the hands in radiology is lead gloves. A study in February 2025 found that lead gloves reduced radiation doses to a surgeon’s hands by over 80%.
Thyroid protection: Thyroid collars that wrap around the neck are used to protect the thyroid gland from radiation exposure. Research from Spine showed that lead thyroid collars worn snug around the neck reduced radiation doses by 8.5 times.
Mobile protection: Mobile lead barriers can offer an additional line of defense between clinicians and the radiation source in environments where radiation exposure is unpredictable. A study published in JSCAI recommended mobile lead shielding as a further measure to ensure safety during prolonged fluoroscopy procedures.
What Are the Main Types of PPE in Healthcare and Their Uses?
To provide further information, here’s a deeper analysis of 5 personal protective equipment options and their uses with examples from clinical research showing PPE usage scenarios to protect from radiation.
1. Lead Aprons
Lead aprons that drape from the shoulders down to just above the knees protect crucial organs, such as the breasts, lungs, heart, and reproductive organs, from radiation. Clinicians may wear them as a primary shielding option across a variety of procedures.
One of the main uses where clinical studies stress the need for lead aprons is during fluoroscopy. For example, a study from the Korean Journal of Pain referenced lead aprons as a primary protective measure during fluoroscopy that significantly reduced radiation doses.
Information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also emphasizes the need for lead aprons as a protective measure in radiology, interventional cardiology, and other surgical procedures using real-time imaging. The NIH mentioned that the need for lead aprons is particularly high when clinicians have to operate right next to the radiation source.
2. Two-Piece Protection (Lead Vest & Skirt Sets)
Lead vests and skirts are an alternative to traditional lead aprons. One of the main problems some clinicians experience with lead aprons is that the weight of the apron on their shoulders can cause excessive fatigue.
A two-piece lead vest and skirt set distributes the weight more evenly between the shoulders and waist to reduce those effects. Research from PLOS One found that two-piece protection reduced weight pressure and shoulder fatigue for clinicians performing extended procedures.
A study in the Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma also states that 0.5 mm lead vests and skirts perform at a similar effectiveness rate as lead aprons, so they act as a good alternative when shoulder pressure and fatigue are a concern.
3. Thyroid Collar
A study published in 2025 stresses that the thyroid gland is one of the most sensitive organs in the body to radiation. It requires shielding during frequent occupational exposure to prevent negative health effects such as thyroid disease and cancer.
Studies from both the Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma and the Korean Journal of Pain mention thyroid collars as another essential shielding measure during interventional surgery. Therefore, many clinicians will wear one in addition to lead aprons or vests while performing procedures using fluoroscopy.
4. Lead Glasses
An analysis from the Journal of Mutation Research emphasized that the eyes are another one of the most radiosensitive organs of the body. Frequent radiation exposure to the lens of the eyes can increase the risk of cancer, cataracts, and vision impairment.
Research from Spine found that lead glasses significantly reduced radiation doses to the eyes during minimally invasive spine surgery using C-arm fluoroscopy. The study analyzed several styles of lead glasses, including traditional lead glasses without side shields, lead glasses with side shields, and wraparound lead glasses, showing high effectiveness rates for each.
The positioning of the radiograph tube can also increase eye exposure levels. A study from the European Journal of Medical Research found that eye exposure was 4 to 5 times higher when the radiograph tube was placed above the patient, highlighting the need for eye protection in those cases.
5. Mobile Lead Barrier
Mobile lead barriers can act as an extra layer of protection in unpredictable settings or during extended procedures.
A study from the International Atomic Energy Agency showed high effectiveness rates using mobile barriers as an additional protective measure for clinicians performing angiography procedures.
What Is Included in a Personal Protective Equipment List in a Hospital?
OSHA’s guidelines for radiation control and prevention list some of the main types of PPE in healthcare, including:
Lead aprons or vests
Lead thyroid collars
Lead gloves
Lead glasses or goggles
OSHA recommends working with your facility’s radiation safety officer (RSO) to assess PPE needs for each procedure and add necessary garments to your inventory to ensure radiation safety.
How Is PPE Selected and Maintained in Healthcare Settings?
OSHA provides several guidelines for healthcare facilities to assess PPE needs and effectiveness. Those recommendations include:
Understanding dose limits established by OSHA and other governing bodies, such as the ICRP.
Having healthcare workers wear personal dosimeters under protective garments to determine radiation doses received across procedures.
Continuously recording exposure levels and monitoring them to avoid exceeding dose limits.
Assessing the intensity and duration of each procedure conducted to choose the right types of garments and thicknesses for individual needs.
Understanding PPE Maintenance Needs
Routine maintenance is also essential to ensure PPE used in healthcare facilities is as safe and effective as possible to protect against radiation.
We recommend performing annual radiation PPE inspections using X-ray scanning to identify small damage that accumulates on garments, such as cracks, holes, or tears. A study from the Journal of Health Physics showed that small tears in lead aprons could get out of hand quickly, increasing by up to 270% in 10 months. That type of damage can reduce a garment’s shielding capabilities, so it’s important to identify it early.
Another regular maintenance need is deep cleaning and disinfection. A study by Dr. Jaber found that 84% of lead aprons in a healthcare facility were contaminated with Tinea species (ringworm) and Staphylococcus aureus, which can pose significant infection risks. Governing bodies like AORN recommend quarterly deep cleaning for all high-touch objects, including PPE, to effectively remove harmful contaminants.
Expert Insights: Evolving PPE Standards and Resources
PPE standards and clinical research are continuously evolving in the healthcare industry, so it’s important to stay current on the latest information to ensure you’re doing everything possible to keep your staff and patients safe.
Some helpful resources you can use to continue learning include:
AORN’s latest guidelines for perioperative practice. Their updated guidelines in 2025 put an emphasis on the cleaning needs for PPE since garments like lead aprons, thyroid shields, and vests have some of the highest contamination rates between 62.5% and 100%.
The CDC’s guidelines for ALARA. The CDC recommends taking radiation safety measures that include minimizing time of exposure, remaining a safe distance from radiation sources, and wearing shielding such as lead aprons and thyroid collars. Shielding is especially crucial since it isn’t always possible to reduce time and distance.
Continue reading our resources at Radiological Care Services (RCS). We’re continuously publishing blogs, case studies, and research reviews referencing helpful resources. For example, you can review our guides on the different types of protective materials or choosing the right thyroid collar thickness.
Conclusion: Making PPE an Integral Part of Patient and Staff Safety
Consulting with your facility’s RSO and following the latest guidelines from governing bodies will help you make educated choices for radiation safety across procedures. That includes selecting the right types of PPE, remaining under recommended radiation dose limits, and keeping garments clean, inspected, and repaired.
We can provide assistance along the way at RCS. Our team can help you source PPE such as lead aprons, vests, skirts, thyroid shields, glasses, and mobile barriers from top manufacturers. Additionally, we offer several maintenance services to keep your PPE in top condition throughout its lifespan, including:
Deep cleaning and disinfection
Inspections using radiographic scanning
Garment repairs
Garment disposal
Inventory management using our RADCOMPLY™ software
All our services follow recommendations from governing bodies such as the CDC and AORN to ensure effective results.
Contact us today to learn more about how RCS can help with efficient PPE sourcing and maintenance.