Mohammed Salam Unit 21: LA C
Health and safety in the medical use of ionising and non – ionising radiation technologies
Three legislations that are designed to inform hospitals and medical providers how they must keep
both patients and hospital staff safe from radiation:
Several laws in the United Kingdom require hospitals and medical providers to keep patients and
hospital staffs safe from radiation. Here are three legislations that keeps both patients and staff safe
from radiation:
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) - These regulations apply
to ionising radiation exposure in England and require medical practitioners to notify the
regulating authority, retain records of investigations, and undertake inspections. Medical
equipment that emits ionising radiation, (Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) legislation
(IR(ME)R) protects patients and hospital staffs from exposure to ionising radiation during
medical procedures, imaging, or treatments. As part of their own medical diagnosis or
treatment, patients are restricted from being exposed to ionising radiation. As part of these
regulations, employers, practitioners, operators, and referrers are identified as primary duty
holders for screening programs and for medical research. Referrers are generally doctors or
dentists who request radiological studies or treatment and must provide sufficient medical
facts to justify radiation exposure. In order to achieve the intended diagnostic or therapeutic
outcome of the exposure, the operator must choose equipment and methods that minimise
the dose of ionising radiation delivered to the individual. The employer is responsible for
ensuring that the equipment is safe and well-maintained before use of the medical
procedure.
The Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17) - These regulations took effect on 1st
January 2018, and replaced Regulations IRR99. They are enforced by the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) and concern the safety of those who may be exposed to radiation at work.
According to the standards, hospitals must follow the ALARA principle, which states that
radiation exposure should be as low as reasonably achievable. This form of legislation
requires employers to keep ionising radiation exposure as low as practically practicable and
to guarantee that exposures do not exceed defined dose limits. Exposure should be limited
first through engineering controls and design elements, and when this is not reasonably
possible, employers must supply personal protective equipment. The Department of Health
is in charge of this regulation, which aims to safeguard people from the dangers of ionising
radiation. The restrictions protect both patients and hospital personnel who are exposed to
ionising radiation from medical equipment used for imaging, therapy, or research.
Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPSs) – These regulations are appointed by hospitals to
ensure that local rules are observed. Radiation Protection Supervisors or (RPSs) are usually
hospital professionals who work in the radiology department. They co operate with
Radiation Protection Advisors (RPAs), which are external bodies regulated by the HSE, to
verify that working conditions are in accordance with IRR17. Ionising Radiation Regulations,
as well as any local restrictions mandated by these regulations, must be followed by the RPS
for all ionising radiation work. The RPS must be familiar with the regulations and local rules
applicable to ionising radiation work, possess sufficient authority to supervise radiation
protection aspects from the staffs doing the work, and make sure that all staffs under their
supervision receive adequate radiation protection training and instruction. To ensure that
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,Mohammed Salam Unit 21: LA C
RPS are trained, tested, and qualified in accordance with international standards, they must
get advanced training, and specialised radiation protection courses are available.
The role of Health and safety executive in controlling radiation:
Information and advice about ionising and non-ionizing radiation dangers in the workplace is
provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Inspections, investigations, and enforcement are
carried out by HSE inspectors in a flexible and reasonable manner in order to ensure that employees
and others are exposed to as little radiation as possible. Companies and the general public are
required to follow the As Low as Reasonably Practical (ALARP) guidelines in order to limit radiation
exposures to As Low As Reasonably Practical (ALARP). To control work with ionising radiations in the
medical field, the HSE also uses the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000.
MRI:
Health and safety risks:
The magnetic field of an MRI can cause ferromagnetic metal objects to go airborne, putting the
patient at risk. While there is no ionising radiation exposure, there are certain health and safety
dangers associated with the procedure. As a result of the radiofrequency used during the MRI scan,
the body may become heated, and the radio-frequency field could create currents in wires near or
on the body, resulting in skin burns. It is recommended that patients who have medical devices
implanted avoid MRIs. In addition, pregnant women are advised not to undergo MRIs because they
may increase the temperature of the amniotic fluid.
Side effects:
MRI scan side effects commonly occur as a result of contrast dye use, including dizziness, headaches,
nausea, and a skin rash. There may also be side effects associated with MRI scans such as peripheral
muscle or nerve activation, which can feel like twitching, and bumping noises, which can affect
hearing if there is insufficient ear protection.
Limitations:
There are few limitations that occur in MRI scans, and these can include:
MRI scans can cause discomfort to the patient due to the small size of the scanner where the
patients will be scanned if they have claustrophobia.
Patient may require remaining still in order to receive good quality images.
The MRI scans usually takes more longer than CT scans.
Ultrasound:
Health and safety risks:
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, Mohammed Salam Unit 21: LA C
Prolonged exposure to ultrasound energy can produce permanent damage to the biological tissue
like skin as prolonged ultrasound energy can heat up the skin.
Side effects:
There are no known of general side effects from the ultrasound scanner but the latex that are used in
the ultrasound in order to receive more quality image can result in allergic reactions to some
patients.
Limitations:
Ultrasound has limitations and is ineffective at imaging body parts that contain gas or are obscured
by bone, such as the lungs or skull. Ultrasound may also be unable to detect items positioned at
great depths. Ultrasound waves can slightly heat tissues and, in some situations, form tiny pockets of
gas in human fluids or tissues.
X – ray:
Health and safety risks:
Over exposure to X ray can result in damaging the to DNA and cause genetic mutations which can
lead to increased risk of developing cancer as since X rays emits ionising radiation.
Side effects:
High radiation levels can cause a variety of side effects, including vomiting, bleeding, fainting, hair
loss, and skin and hair loss. While there is a very low risk of short-term negative effects, exposure to
high radiation levels can cause skin redness, infertility, cataracts, and hair loss. During imaging exams,
X-ray contrast agents are utilised to enhance the image quality of X ray which can be effective to
assess the internal organs. Iodine-based contrast agents are the most commonly used in X rays. Here
some of the side effects of X-ray contrast agents that occur in some patients:
Mild side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, and flushing.
Rashes, vomiting, and chills are examples of moderate responses.
Severe responses include difficulty breathing, enlargement of the neck or other regions of
the body, and severe hypotension.
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, rashes, pruritus, and nausea, as well as parotitis and
joint pain, are delayed reactions.
Limitations:
Many bone and joint disorders, including tuberculosis and acute infectious arthritis, cannot be
diagnosed with X-rays. Using fluoroscopy to perform complex interventional procedures requires
long exposure times and high skin doses which can increase of developing cancer. If X-rays alone are
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