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Learn more about the Division of Environmental Health

X-Ray Control Section 

The X-Ray Control Section of the Office of Radiation Protection is the largest section in the Office, with inspectors in Olympia, Bellevue, Spokane, and Yakima.  The Section conducts about 1500 inspections a year and finds violations of regulations in approximately 25% of the facilities.  Facilities are required to correct these violations, although no fines or penalties are assessed.

The main emphasis is patient exposure and image quality.  This Section evaluates film processing, machine performance, technologist qualifications, and operator protection.  All X-ray machines are required to be registered through the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL).

•  Inspections

  • Facilities

  • Violations

  • Survey Results

  • Mammography

• Registration of X-ray Equipment

  • Registration Information

  • Plan Review

    • Qualified Experts List - Health physicists approved to do X-ray shielding plans
    • X-ray Shielding Plan Review Procedure (PDF, 49.7 KB)
    • X-ray Shielding Review Information for Qualified Experts (PDF, 22.2 KB)

  • Fees

  • Personnel Dose Monitoring

  • Dosimetry Service Providers (NVLAP-approved)

• Typical Patient Exposures

• Whole Body Scanning Using Computed Tomography (CT)

• X-ray Facts to Remember

• X-Ray Fee Restructure

• X-ray Flood Issues Q&A:  Potential affects of water on an X-ray operation.

• Contact Information

• External Links

The X-Ray Control Section has developed two PowerPoint presentations in a question and answer format covering X-ray inspection topics such as standards, imaging, processing, and physics.  These quizzes are meant to be used by radiologic technologists, state X-ray inspectors, medical physicists and the general public as continuing education, refresher training, and to generally spark further interest and study on the various subjects.  These presentations require a PowerPoint Reader (download a reader) and are currently available only as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (generated in version 4.0).  To download, click on  them:

X-Ray Quiz #1 (created in MS PowerPoint version 4.0 (239.00KB), August 1998) 

X-Ray Quiz #2 (created in MS PowerPoint version 97/2000 (1455.50KB), March 2001)

X-Ray Facts to Remember

• X-rays do not bounce around in a room after an exposure; there is some scatter radiation during the exposure, of course, but since X-rays travel at the speed of light  (just as light does!), there is no lingering radiation after the X-ray exam.

• X-rays do not "accumulate" in one's body after X-ray exams are done. It is true that the EFFECTS of exposure can accumulate.

• X-rays do not make you radioactive after the exposure.

• X-rays are like gamma rays. Neither should be compared to sunshine, microwaves, or other non-ionizing types of radiation. Microwaves, radiowaves, cellular phone frequencies, or 60 Hz electrical power line magnetic fields are NOT the same as X-rays and other forms of ionizing radiation.

External Links

Radiology Information

Contact Information

X-Ray Control Section
P.O. Box 47827
Olympia, WA 98504-7827

Phone (360) 236-3236

In-State Toll Free 1-800-299-9729
FAX (360) 236-2266

Olympia X-Ray Staff:

• Ellen Haars, Manager . . . 360-236-3231, Ellen.Haars@doh.wa.gov

• Sharon Grundhoffer, Admin Assistant . . . 360-236-3230, Sharon.Grundhoffer@doh.wa.gov

• Sarah Clark, Inspector . . . 360-236-3234, Sarah.Clark@doh.wa.gov

• Alton Jenkins, Inspector . . . 360-236-3237, Alton.Jenkins@doh.wa.gov

• Scott Mantyla, Inspector . . . 360-236-3232, Scott.Mantyla@doh.wa.gov

• Shirley Maxim, Inspector . . . 360-236-3233, Shirley.Maxim@doh.wa.gov

• Richard Montemarano, Inspector . . . 360-236-3238, Richard.Montemarano@doh.wa.gov

Bellevue X-Ray Staff:

• Mike Odlaug, Inspector . . . 425-649-1348, Mike.Odlaug@doh.wa.gov

Spokane X-Ray Staff:

• Kelly Cameron, Inspector . . . 509-456-3289, Kelly.Cameron@doh.wa.gov

Yakima X-Ray Staff:

• Bob Clark, Inspector . . . 509-727-1446, Bob.Clark@doh.wa.gov