One of the prime factors that correctional facilities must address in their security techniques is safety, and security checks must be safe, both for inmates and security staff.

While full body scanners have alleviated most of the safety concerns associated with physical pat downs and body cavity searches, there is still the question of radiation exposure, and whether body scanners are actually safe.

A Concern For Radiation Safety

Although x-ray technology has been approved for non-medical use in functions such as body scanning since 1993 and the technology has improved greatly over the decades, the concern over radiation safety and how much radiation is too much has been there since the start.

According to the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), a dose of 1 mSv or less annually, including up to 250 uSV delivered from security body scanning equipment, is considered safe.

These are important numbers for facilities performing multiple scans on the same inmates and visitors, as the yearly dosage can add up quicker than it would for the average individual.

Full Body Scanners Much Safe

Research on the use of full body scanners reveals that the dosage delivered by modern scanners is minimal, meaning there is little safety risk even to those undergoing multiple scans throughout the period of one year.

This safety dose of up to 250 uSv equates to roughly 1,000 body scans per year at an average radiation dose from body scanning equipment while staying well within the safety margin.

Add to this the fact that as body scanning technology continues to improve and radiation doses per scan continue to get smaller, the safety margin is evident.

Many body scanners already deliver much lower than the average dosage and studies have demonstrated safety even up to as many as 5,000 scans annually when each scan delivers .05 uSv.

Consider Using Full Body Scanners

Considering the ongoing development of better, safer, and more efficient full body scanners and how today’s scanning technology works well within NCRP safety recommendations, it is safe to say that modern body scanning is not harmful to those moving through them, even multiple times.

As long as prison facilities utilize the best equipment to scan for contraband and it is used within the NCRP guidelines, safety is not a concern.

Combined with the other ways that body scanners promote inmate and staff safety by removing most needs for actual, physical contact, it is easy to see how full body scanners are the best choice today for security scanning.