Legislation

Question 1

Is IR dangerous?

Answer 1

X-ray and gamma rays dangerous.

Dan damage due to free radicals and direct DNA interaction.

Question 2

Biological dangers of IR

Answer 2

Stochastic

Cancer induction

Non-stochastic

Cataracts, burns, sterility

Question 3

What is the ICRP

Answer 3

International commission of radiological protection

Advise national legislation

Question 4

Radiation sources

Answer 4

Industrial
Consumer
Nuclear medicine
CT
Background
Radios - decay of granite isotopes

Question 5

X-ray history

Answer 5

Discovered by roentgen 1895

First dental X-ray Edmund Kells 1896

Question 6

Radiation doses

Answer 6

PA 0.001msv
Pano 0.02
Lung X-ray 0.02
Whole body CT 15-20msv

Question 7

What does IRR 99 relate to

Answer 7

Workplace, employees and public
Exposure kept ALARP
Employer responsible to HSE

Question 8

IRR99 RA

Answer 8

Risk assessment

Hazard - dose
Who harmed and affected?
Evaluate risks - likelihood of occurrence and protective measures
Record findings
Review - SOP

Question 9

IRR99 RPA

Answer 9

Train staff
Must have one in each practice
Consulted on:

Control areas
Plans for new equipment
Calibration of dose
Testing of safety
RA
Investigation after incident

Question 10

IRR99 RPS

Answer 10

In every practice
Adequately trained
Authority to implement
Ensure local rules followed:
Employees read and sign
Accident protocols
Instructions
Controlled area identification
RPS/A name and info

Question 11

Controlled area

Answer 11

Where > 6msv dose limit or 3/10th dose limit

Area with procedure to restrict exposure

Question 12

Dose restraints

Answer 12

Recommended levels - not limits
Not exceeded in normal practice

1msv operators if directly involved
0.3msv if not directly involved

Question 13

IR(ME)R2000 relates to

Answer 13

Patient protection
Principle purpose
Enforced by Care Quality Commission

Question 14

4 classes of duty holder

Answer 14

Referrer
Practitioner
Operator
Employer

Question 15

Referrer

Answer 15

Supply clinical details to justify radiographs

Takes history and examination

Question 16

Practitioner

Answer 16

Justification of procedure - benefits must outweigh risks
Use selection criteria
Authorisation: recording that justification has been carried out prior to exposure.

Question 17

Operator

Answer 17

Carries out investigation and associated activities
Optimisation - ALARP:
DPT field reduction to minimum
Identify patient
Sensitive image detector systems
Set exposure parameters
Process films
Evaluate film quality

Question 18

Employer (legal person)

Answer 18

Must implement IR99 and IRMER2000
RA
Training 
Notification of HSE
Dose limits
Ensure written protocols in place
Appoint RPS and RPA

Question 19

Employee duties

Answer 19

Don’t expose anyone/self greater than necessary
Use PPE
Report defects
Keep updated

Question 20

Medical Physics expert

Where from/advice

Answer 20

From:
PHE radiation protection
Medical physics department
Independent department

Advise on:
Patient dosimetry
Development of new/complex techniques
Radiation protection

Question 21

Pregnant patient

Answer 21

Required to ask before X-ray

Normally unnecessary in dentistry

Question 22

What is excessive exposure?

Answer 22

20X un/intended dose

Employer consults RPA

Question 23

How much continuous training for Dentists/DCPs?

Answer 23

1 day every 5 years

Question 24

What is ionising radiation?

Answer 24

When an X-ray hits an electron displacing it. Electron goes on to cause more ionisation and free radical formation.