Health and safety requirements for diagnostic imaging

Question 1

what are three potential sources of x-ray exposure?

Answer 1

• the tube head
• the primary beam
• scatter radiation

Question 2

what is scatter radiation?

Answer 2

• a type of secondary radiation
• produced when the x-ray beam is intercepted by an object in its path

Question 3

how can you reduce scatter radiation?

Answer 3

collimating using the light beam diaphragm

Question 4

What does ALARA mean?

Answer 4

as low as reasonably achievable

Question 5

What are the 3 basic principles of ALARA?

Answer 5

• exposure to personnel should be kept to a minimum
• no dose limit should ever be exceeded
• unnecessary procedures should not be performed

Question 6

What does kV stand for and what does it mean?

Answer 6

Kilovoltage - penetrative power of the x-ray beam

Question 7

What does mAs stand for and what does it mean?

Answer 7

milliampere-seconds - the number of x-rays produced

Question 8

What are the four radiation effects?

Answer 8

• invisible
• painless
• latent
• cumulative

Question 9

What are some physical effects that radiation has on the human body?

Answer 9

• damages reproductive organs
• damages developing foetus
• damages hematopoietic system

Question 10

What are some acute effects of radiation?

Answer 10

• V + D
• pancytopenia (low number of red and white blood cells and platelets)

Question 11

What are some chronic effects of radiation?

Answer 11

• somatic effects (burns, liver damage)
• genetic effects
• carcinogenic effects

Question 12

who is the government body that carry out inspections and investigations to enforce regulations?

Answer 12

• Health and safety executive

Question 13

What does RPS stand for?

Answer 13

radiation protection supervisor

Question 14

What does the RPS do?

Answer 14

take charge of routine protection procedures and devise local rules

Question 15

What does the RPA do?

Answer 15

assists setting up local rules and safe working practices

Question 16

What are the four types of dosimeter?

Answer 16

• passive
• thermo luminescent
• film badge
• active

Question 17

How does a passive dosimeter work?

Answer 17

• produces a radiation-induced signal which is stored in the device
• it is then processed and analysed

Question 18

How does a thermo luminescent dosimeter (TLD) work?

Answer 18

• stores the energy it receives from the ionising radiation until they are heated to a high temperature then the energy is released as visible light

Question 19

How does a film badge dosimeter work?

Answer 19

• the more radiation exposure, the more blackening of the film when developed

Question 20

How does an active dosimeter work?

Answer 20

• produces radiation-induced signal and displays a direct reading of the detected dose or dose rate in real time

Question 21

What is the maximum permissible dose for an adult?

Answer 21

20mSv/ 12 months

Question 22

What is the maximum permissible dose for 16-18 year olds?

Answer 22

6mSv/ 12 months

Question 23

what thickness should a lead apron and thyroid protector be?

Answer 23

at least 0.25 lead equivalent

Question 24

what thickness should gloves and sleeves be?

Answer 24

at least 0.35 lead equivalent

Question 25

true or false: radiation protective equipment is only effective against scatter radiation

Answer 25

true

Question 26

What does the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 aim to do?

Answer 26

protect employees health and safety when in contact with radiation