BTEC Assignment Brief
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science
Qualification BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied
Science
Unit number and
Unit 21: Medical Physics Applications
title
C: Understand health and safety, associated risks, side effects and
Learning aims limitations of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in
medical applications
Health and Safety in the medical use of ionising and non-ionising
Assignment title
radiation technologies.
Assessor
Issue date
Hand in deadline
In order to support your application to study Diagnostic Radiography
and Imaging at University, you have secured a placement within the
Radiography Department of a teaching hospital. Your clinical
Vocational Scenario placement will allow you to shadow the work of a qualified
or Context Radiographer and gain valuable experience in the safe use of ionising
and non-ionising radiation technologies. On completion of your
placement, you will produce a report to demonstrate your
understanding of these important topics.
Despite the many benefits of radiation technologies, the use of
ionising and non-ionising radiation in medical applications is not
without risk.
Produce a report that discusses, compares and explains the
health and safety issues, side effects and limitations of ionising and
non-ionising radiation technologies in medical applications.
Discuss why prevention and safety measures are put into
place to protect patients and health care workers. Discuss the
potential consequences of failing to follow and comply with
Health and Safety guidance and regulations.
Include specific, scientific reasons why the precautions and
Task
measures taken in clinical radiology to protect patients and
operators.
Compare and explain the health and safety risks involved in
the use of ionising and non-ionising radiation technologies
and the impact these risks may have on patients and
operators. Differentiate and order the level of risk according
to the type of radiation technology used. Include detail of the
potential side effects that may occur, and the limitations
across a range of ionising and non-ionising radiation
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, technologies.
Explain the role of the Health and Safety Executive and
relevant legislation (e.g. A guide to the Control of
Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016) in the
control of radiation exposure of medical staff and patients.
Explain the health and safety measures used by hospitals in
order to maximise the protection of medical staff and patients
with reference to current health and safety legislation and the
Health and Safety Executive.
Checklist of evidence A report that includes:
required A discussion of the precautions and measures that are taken
to protect people exposed to ionising and non-ionising
radiation in a medical setting including the potential
consequences of failing to implement safeguarding
procedures.
A comparison of the health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations of ionising and non-ionising radiation technologies
in a medical setting.
An explanation of the health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations of ionising and non-ionising radiation technologies.
An explanation showing how hospitals use health and safety
measures, legislation and HSE guidance to protect those
exposed to ionising and non-ionising radiation in a medical
setting.
Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
reference
Discuss the consequences of poor health and safety when using non-ionising
C. D2 and ionising radiation technologies and the prevention and safety measures
employed.
Compare the health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of non-
C. M3 ionising and ionising radiation technologies in medical applications to
maximise the protection of operators and patients.
Explain the health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of non-
C. P5
ionising and ionising radiation technologies.
Explain how hospitals can employ health and safety measures, when using
C. P6
instrumentation, for the protection of operators and patients.
Sources of http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/
information to
support you with
this Assignment https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-radiation-uses-
dose-measurements-and-safety-advice
http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/
radiation-therapy/side-effects-radiation-therapy
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Healthcare_Sector/
Occupational_Hazards_in_Hospital_Departments/
Department_Hazards/Radiology/
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, http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=safety-xray
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg281.pdf
Other assessment
materials attached
to this Assignment
Brief
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,LEARNER ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION AND DECLARATION
When submitting evidence for assessment, each learner must sign a declaration confirming
that the work is their own.
Learner name: Assessor name:
Start date: Hand in deadline: Submitted on:
Qualification: Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Unit name(s): Unit 15: Electrical Circuits and their Applications
Assignment title: Unit 21 Authorised Assignment Brief for Learning Aim C Medical Physics
Application
Please list the evidence submitted for each task. Indicate the page numbers where the evidence
can be found or describe the nature of the evidence (e.g. video, illustration).
Page numbers or
Task reference Evidence submitted
description
Additional comments to the Assessor:
Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any
sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Learner signature: Date:
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, P5
Non-Ionising Radiation
Some non-ionising radiations have been shown to have negative effects on the human body.
The nervous system, for example, can be harmed, causing nausea and disorientation;
dangerous heating of human tissue can ensue; and optical radiations can burn skin and
damage eyes.
• Induction currents in the lower frequency range (300Hz to 1MHz) may interfere with central
nervous system function.
• Heat is produced through the absorption of electromagnetic energy in the intermediate
frequency band (100KHz to 10GHz).
• Heating of superficial tissues is feasible at higher frequencies (10GHz to 300GHz).
• Optical radiations (infrared, visible light, and ultra-violet) can cause tissue heating as well as
eye injury.
Reference- https://warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing/guidance/non-
ionisingradiation/hazardsassociatedwiththeuseofnonionisingradiation/#:~:text=There%20is
%20evidence%20that%20some,skin%20and%20damage%20the%20eyes.
Although non-ionising radiation does not cause ionisation in materials, it does have health
implications. These impacts can range from the following:
visual disturbance (flash blindness)
corneal burns, photokeratitis (milky white cornea), cataract (arc eye)
erythema (sunburn), faster skin ageing, increased skin pigmentation, and skin
malignancies which are all symptoms of thermal (burning) and photochemical damage
to the retina.
skin burn and hypersensitive skin reaction
Electronic equipment in the body, such as pacemakers, can be affected by EMF. Medical
devices, such as artificial limbs and fractured bone fixation systems, can also be subjected to
localised heating. When EMFs interact with people, localised temperature rises in bodily tissue
may occur.
Reference- https://www.essex.ac.uk/student/health-and-safety/non-ionising-radiation-safety
Black lights, tanning beds, and electric arc lighting all emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is a
natural component of solar radiation. UV exposure at normal levels can be beneficial and
generate vitamin D. Skin burns, premature ageing, eye damage, and skin cancer can all be
caused by too much UV light. Exposure to UV light is the leading cause of skin cancer.
The consumer is exposed to UV radiation when they utilise tanning beds and tanning gadgets.
Skin cancer is also increased by exposure to tanning beds and tanning gadgets.
Radio frequency radiation has lower energy than some other types of non-ionizing radiation,
like visible light and infrared, but it has higher energy than extremely low-frequency radiation.
If RF radiation is absorbed by the body in large enough amounts, it can produce heat. This can
lead to burns and body tissue damage.
Ionising Radiation
Ionising radiation has enough energy to destroy the genetic material of live cells by affecting
their atoms (DNA). Fortunately, our bodies' cells are incredibly effective at mending damage. A
cell on the other hand may die or grow malignant if the injury is not treated properly.
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