Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 Flashcards
Introduction
Governed by health + safety executive, primarily protect dental team, but include references to equipment + pt protection. some essential legal requirements are:
Health and safety executive
must be notified of routine uses of x-ray equipment + any change of practice ownership or premises
The installer
is responsible for critical exam + report of all new or modified dental equipment
Equipment must be
routinely tested as part of QA programme
Risk assessments must be
undertaken before work commences + subject to a regular review
Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA)
appointed - individual who advises how to comply with the legislation
Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS)
appointed - may be member of the dental team
International commission on radiological protection
covers all aspects of radiological protection - recommended system of dose limitation is into three components:
- justification of practice
- optimisation of radiation protection
- dose limits for individuals at work + public
ALARP
primary concern to keep exposures at lowest practicable level
AS LOW AS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE/POSSIBLE
Employers deemed
not to be keeping exposures as low as they can, could be at risk of prosecution
Training
needs to be provided, informative + Instructive + records kept + practices should have radiation protection file
The legal person + employee must:
not knowingly expose themselves or others to x-ray to extent that is greater than reasonably necessary for work purpose
The legal person + employee must:
exercise reasonable care when working on any aspect of dental radiology
The legal person + employee must:
immediately report to legal person if reasonable cause to believe an incident/accident has occurred with x-ray equipment + they or other have received overexposure
Designated area
during exposure, we are required to stand a minimum of 1.5 meters away from the pt + the tube head - called the controlled area and 2m safety zone
