A Historic Step Forward: Arizona Advances First-in-the-Nation Radiation Protection for Healthcare Workers

January 23, 2026 - ORSIF applauds the Arizona State Legislature for taking a groundbreaking step toward protecting healthcare workers from occupational radiation exposure. This week, the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Senator Carine Werner, unanimously advanced three bills designed to establish first-in-the-nation protections for doctors, nurses, and technicians who work in interventional fluoroscopy environments.

From Documentary to Legislative Action

This legislative milestone represents the culmination of years of advocacy, education, and awareness-building. ORSIF is proud to have been a key sponsor of Scattered Denial: The Occupational Dangers of Radiation, the PBS documentary co-produced by Dr. David Rizik of HonorHealth Research Institute. The film brought national attention to the occupational hazards faced by interventional healthcare workers- hazards that have been overlooked for far too long.

Dr. Rizik’s testimony before the Arizona Legislature this week was a powerful demonstration of how research, storytelling, and advocacy can translate into meaningful policy change. His message was clear: healthcare workers who dedicate their careers to saving lives should not have to sacrifice their own health in the process.

Why This Matters

Interventional fluoroscopy workers are among the highest radiation-exposed professionals in healthcare- often receiving greater cumulative doses than nuclear power plant workers.

The consequences are severe: elevated cancer risks, cataracts, left-sided brain tumors, and a host of other radiation-induced injuries that disproportionately affect the left side of the body, which faces the greatest exposure during procedures.

Beyond radiation, these professionals endure the burden of heavy lead protective equipment—garments weighing 30 to 40 pounds that contribute to chronic musculoskeletal injuries, career-ending spine and joint damage, and early retirement. This dual occupational hazard has been documented extensively, yet regulatory protections have failed to keep pace with the growing volume of fluoroscopy-guided procedures.

What These Bills Represent

While details of the specific legislation continue to develop, the unanimous committee vote signals bipartisan recognition that healthcare worker safety is not a partisan issue—it is a public health imperative. Arizona is positioning itself as a national leader in occupational radiation safety, setting a precedent that we hope other states will follow.

ORSIF commends Senator Carine Werner for her leadership on this initiative and for giving this critical issue the legislative attention it deserves. We also extend our gratitude to the healthcare workers, researchers, and advocates who have shared their stories and data to make this moment possible.

Our Commitment Moving Forward

ORSIF remains committed to advancing radiation safety through education, research, and advocacy. We will continue to monitor the progress of these Arizona bills and support efforts to ensure they become law. We will also work to bring similar protections to healthcare workers across the country.

To the interventional cardiology, radiology, and healthcare community: this is your victory. Your voices have been heard. The work continues, but today we celebrate a significant step forward.

Learn More

Watch Scattered Denial: www.ScatteredDenial.org

State Radiation Safety Regulations Guide: Available guidelines-us.orsif.org.

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ORSIF – Standing With Those Who Care for Others

Because the safety of caregivers and patients should be equal.