Unit 21 LA C Radiation Health and Safety
Context: In this report, I will explain the health and safety risks, limitations and side effects
of ionising and non-ionising radiation used in medical (Answer in Physics for Sam #176157,
2021) appliances.
HSE stands for Health and Safety Executive. It is a regulator that aims to prevent work
related illnesses, injuries and death. It is also responsible for “health and safety policy and
the enforcement of health and safety law in the UK and ensures compliance with health and
safety law through inspections, prosecutions” (What is the Health and Safety Executive? | WorkSmart: The career
coach that works for everyone, 2021) and investigations.
Safe Operating Procedures (SOP) ensure that all non-ionising procedures are carried out
without harming the patient and the medical staff and without damaging the equipment.
The health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of non-ionising
radiation technologies(Answer in Physics for Sam #176157, 2021)-
The general safe operating procedures for non-ionising radiation are that the operators must
have the medical qualifications needed, take full responsibility of the procedure within the
medical practice and guidelines. They have to follow a scheme using documented medical
guidelines for the procedure, ensure that the transducer equipment has been well
maintained and cleaned, “have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the equipment
being used, the biological effects of the technique and hazards to the patient and ensure that
regular maintenance and inspections are carried out” (BMUS, 2021). They have to carry out
electrical safety tests, repair tests and recording and imaging tests correctly according to the
guidelines and within the according timescale. The medical practitioners have to confirm the
medical details and the identity of the patients that will go through the scan before the
examination. They have to use as little as possible dose of radiation of the technique to
ensure they work properly to make a diagnosis, treat or imaging.
HSE legislatives for non-ionising radiation technologies:
● The supervisor has to make sure that everyone has an “authorization to enter a
designated static magnetic field area from the department or the magnet supervisor”
(Qatar University, 2021).
● Supervisors have to “make sure that all the authorised personnel or visitors entering
the area are qualified and understand the potential hazards.
● The radiation safety officer has to provide training when requested by the
department, the individual or the supervisor” (Qatar University, 2021).
● The department has to notify Radiation Safety whenever the magnetic equipment is
scheduled to be transferred or purchased.
● “The supervisor has to ensure that all appropriate signage is posted and that the 5
Gauss line is clearly indicated” (Qatar University, 2021).
● Individuals have to remove all ferromagnetic items they carry with themselves (tools,
jewelry, etc).
Part C.P6
Ultrasound:
● Ultrasounds “should only be used for medical diagnosis” (The British Medical Ultrasound
Society, 2021)
● People carrying out the ultrasound have to be fully trained.
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,Unit 21 LA C Radiation Health and Safety
● The people carrying out “the ultrasound needs to understand and be aware of
the equipment settings, effects of machine settings on power levels” (The British
Medical Ultrasound Society, 2021) and be careful with the potential thermal and
mechanical bio-effects of it.
● The “ultrasound devices must be calibrated at least once a month by a trained
member of medical staff so that the ultrasonic power is indicated around 20%”
(Canada, 2021) accuracy.
● The examination time should be as short as possible.
● “Pregnancy scans should not be carried only for videos or photographs” (The
British Medical Ultrasound Society, 2021).
Part C.P6
Operator Safety Precautions, risks and limitations for ultrasounds:
Precautions:
● When the apparatus is emitting ultrasound, the operator must not contact the
applicator side.
● While an ultrasound therapy device is running in the water bath, “the operator must
not submerge any part of their body in the water bath in the path of the direct
transmitted beam” (Canada, 2021).
● Only turn on ultrasound therapy equipment if the applicator's face is in good acoustic
contact with the patient and the operator is holding the applicator by its handle. The
likelihood of thermal damage to the applicator is also reduced if this rule is followed.
● “A dry soft knit glove may be worn within a rubber glove to provide air-gap protection”
(Canada, 2021) and help prevent any reflected or scattered ultrasonography from
entering the operator's hand during underwater treatments.
Part C.P6
Risks:
Human tissue exposure through “direct contact with a vibrating solid, human tissue exposure
through direct contact with a liquid coupling medium, and human tissue” (Avon, 2021)
exposure through airborne contamination are the three main dangers associated with
ultrasonic equipment. The ear is the important organ for airborne ultrasound exposure, but
only to frequencies close to 20kHz. (Because the sound is ultrasonic, the outer ear cannot
respond to higher frequencies.) When ultrasonography is used in excess of recommended
limits, there is a danger of noise-induced hearing loss. “The ear will be affected in the same
manner as other acoustic risks, such as threshold shift or tinnitus, would” (Ultrasound
Equipment Risk Assessment | Croner-i, 2021) .
Part C.P5
Limitations:
Ultrasound has a variety of limitations, including the need for setup, a lower resolution than
other imaging technologies, and the inability to scan bones for fracture diagnosis.
Ultrasonography cannot be used to scan physiological parts that contain gas or are
obscured by bone, such as the lungs or the skull, because sound does not travel well
through air or bone. The apparatus is placed above eye level, causing flexion and extension
of the spine and placing the operator at risk. Back pain can be caused by leaning backwards
and rotating the trunk.
Part C.P5
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, Unit 21 LA C Radiation Health and Safety
MRI:
● The patients must be asked to remove any metallic items they have on
(including clothing, belts, jewellry, etc.)
● The patients must be asked a few questions to make sure that they have not
had surgery in the last 8 weeks, a cochlear implant, metal clips from brain
operations, metallic foreign body lodged in the eye, a cardiac pacemaker and
that they are nor pregnant.
● “Only MR authorised personnel should have free access to the MR Controlled
Access Area” (MHRA, 2021).
● “Unauthorised staff must be screened for a wide range of factors and seek
authority to enter the MR Controlled Access Area” (MHRA, 2021).
● “In cases where a carer or other individual accompanying a patient is needed
to enter the MR” (MHRA, 2021) environment, they should be screened in a
similar way to patients.
● “Referring clinicians should be made aware of the safety aspects and
contraindications associated with MRI equipment that are specifically relevant
to their patients, prior to submitting them for scanning” (MHRA, 2021).
Part C.P6
Operator Safety Precautions, risks and limitations for MRI:
Risks:
Even though MRI is quite safe, there are some risks that can affect both the patients and
the operators. When drawn towards a 1.5 T magnet, “small objects like paper clips and
hairpins have a terminal velocity of 40mph, posing a major risk to the patient and anybody
else in the scan room” (Care, Safety, Safety and Risks, 2021). “The force that pulls projectiles
toward a magnetic field is related to the object's mass and distance from the magnet” (Care,
Safety, Safety and Risks, 2021).” Even surgical instruments composed of surgical stainless
steel, such as hemostats, scissors, and clamps, are highly attracted to the main magnetic
field” (Care, Safety, Safety and Risks, 2021). “Highly magnetic items such as oxygen tanks,
gurneys, floor buffing machines, and construction tools should never be carried into the scan
room” (Care, Safety, Safety and Risks, 2021). “There are, however, non-ferrous oxygen tanks
and gurneys that are MRI compatible” (Care, Safety, Safety and Risks, 2021). The magnetic
field has the potential to damage consumer items such as pagers, cell phones, cameras,
and analogue clocks. The magnetic field has the ability to reprogramme or turn off
pacemakers. Credit cards with magnetic strips are erased by the magnet field. Due to the
possibility of clip movement, patients with ferrous intracranial vascular clips may be at
danger.
Part C.P5
Precautions:
● Escort the patient to the MRI room.
● Because many scanning methods emit loud noises, use earplugs or headphones to
protect your hearing.
● Pockets must be emptied; both operators and patients must empty their pockets
before entering the MRI room. Keys, iPhones, cash, and pencils, for example, are
among these objects. Metal objects that are not removed may become lethal
projectiles, and electronic gadgets may malfunction.
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