Legislation - XRAYS Flashcards
List 4 characteristics of radiation means effects are not immedietly appriciated
1 - Cummalitive
2 - latent
3 - Invisable
4 - Painless
define: Somatic effects of radiation
Somatic effects are direct changes to the body tissues or organs.
List some Somatic effects of radiation.
Hint SOMATIC RADIATION EFFECTS RAPIDLY DIVIDING CELLS BEFORE THEY DIVIDE PASSING THE EFFECTS ON TO DAUGHTER CELLS
Blood disorders Cateracts GI upset Hair Loss Inflammation Baldness Death of Tissue Infertility Damage to devloping foetus Burns
Harmful effects of radiation can be
1
2
3
1 - Somatic
2 - Carcinogenic
3 - Genetic
define: Carcinogenic effects
-induction of tumours (these are stochastic)
define: Genetic effects
-Inherited abnormalities
these are stochastic
Define: Stochastic
these effects are by chance, there is no minimum threshold of exposure
Define: Non- Stochastic
These have a dose specific threshold. once these thresholds are met or exceeded side effects will occur.
Radiation sources
1
2
3
1 - Faulty equipment
2 - Primary beam
3 - Scatter radiation
Radiation source: Faulty equipment
How often should tube head be checked?
Checked annually
Radiation source: Faulty equipment
The tube window must be covered by an ______________ film to remove _________________ from the primary beam
The tube window must be covered by an ALIUMINIUM FILTER film to remove LOW ENERGY X-RAY PHOTONS from the primary beam
Radiation source: Faulty equipment
Describe protocol for checking for cracks
1 - Tape envoloped non screen film to the tube head
2 - Leave in place for a few exposures
3 - Process the film, if there are any cracks these will show as black lines
Radiation source: Primary Beam
Body exposure
No part of the body should be placed in the path of the primary beam
Radiation source: Primary Beam
Collimation devices
Collimations devices should be used and checked periodically
Radiation source: Primary Beam
Horizontal beam work
Horizontal beam work should be avoided as much as possible
If it cannot be avoided it should be pointed towards thick wall
Radiation source: Primary Beam
Table protection
To stop the primary beam from passing through the table, it should be lined with lead to avoid exposing the radiographers feet.
Radiation source: Scatter radiation
Explain where scatter radiation comes from
Scatter radiation occurs when xrays hit a solid object, is not absorbed and it ‘bounces’ off in an unpredictabke fashion
Radiation source: Scatter Radiation
sources
1
2
3
1 Patient
2 Casset
3 Walls
Ways that we can reduce scatter radiation
- Lead door
- 2m distance from primary beam
- use of grid for depths of >10cm
- PPE - gloves, gown, thyroid sheild
- Keep settings on minimal exposure
- Minimum exposures necessary for patient
- Collimate primary beam
- Lead backed table
Dosemeters - Thermoluminescent
Lithium Floride cyrstals
- radiation effects the structure of the crystals, when the badges are heated the glow different colours depending on the radiation they were exposed to. .
Dosemeters - film badges
These contain small pieces of xray film which measures the exposure of radiation.
Dosemeters - units
Millisieverts mSv
Dosemeters - rules 1 2 3 4 5
1 placed on trunk
2 avoid exposure to excess sunlight
3 only for designated wearer
4 replaced every 1 - 3 months.
Dose limits - M.P.D
Maxiumum permitted dose
MPD - 17+ years old
20 mSv
MPD - 16-17YR OLD
6 MSV
MPD - PREGNANT WOMEN
1 MSV though most practice policies will be that pregnant women do not participate in radiography
Xray machine equipment - MUST HAVE
Light/Buzzer to indicate when exposure being taken
Colimation device
A timer
An exposure button that allows radiographer to be 2m away
warning light
2.5mm aluimium filtration
XRAY Table regulations
1mm of lead sheet covering the table - to protect the feet of the oportator incase of manual restraint
Controlled Area
Xray room is the area when any xray equipment is turned on and xray production has been enabled.
This is any area where the instaneous dose rate is likely to exceed 7.5mSv per hour.
This is usually 2m around the primary beam
No one my enter the xray room when an exposure is being taken.
Sheilding
Most useful aids against scattered radiation are
1
2
1 - distance
2 - sheilding
3 -
Barriers for primary beam
4.5in of brick
1mm of lead/rubber/glass/acrylic
Barriers for secondary (scatter) radiation
4.5in of brick
05mm of lead/rubber/glass/acrylic
distance of 2m from the edge of primary beam, plus a plasteroard, timber or glass partition board
Special recommendations for flooring may be required if there is a room above or below the controlled area
Classified workers
Workers that are likely to obtain more than 30% of any MPD whilst working with ionising radiations
Radiation protection advisor
External personnel
any practice with an Xray machine hat requires a member of staff to work in a controlled area MUST appoint a radiation protections advisor
Radiation protection advisor must have a ___________________. As set out by the Approved Code of Practice.
Must have a cirtificate of competence
RPA’s give advice on all aspects of ________, and help draw up ______________
Radiation protection
Local rules
Radiation protection Advisors could be
1
2
1 - Veterinary Radiologists
2 - a Health physicist who has an active interest in veterinary radiology.
Radiation protection supivisor (internal)
Senior staff members appointmented within the practice.
Responsibilities of RPS
responsibility for ensuring that radiography is carried out in accordance to the regulations and local rules
RPA/RPS?
- Barriers to primary and secondary radiation
- Construction
- Size
RPA
RPA/RPS?
Working routine
- monitoring - whole body, extremity, environment
RPA
RPA/RPS?
Machine
Table
Protective Equipment
RPA
RPA/RPS?
Local rules written systems of work changes to: room procedures equipment
RPA
RPA/RPS?
Training-
Problems that may arise.
training staff on protection procedures
RPA
RPA/RPS?
Procedures Monitoring Records Protective clothing Standardised training
RPS
PPE for xrays
1
2
3
Sometimes
4
5
Lead gown
lead gloves
lead thyroid protector
Lead goggles
lead screen
How thick should a lead gown be?
0.25mm
How thick should be lead gloves be?
0.35 - 0.5mm
When would you wear ppe for xrays?
When standing within the controlled area.
This does not allow you to stand within the primary beam
XRAY RECORDS
What records what need to kept within the book
DATE PATIENTS NAME STAFF PRESENT VIEWS TAKEN SETTINGS mAs and kVs. QUALITY Grid Y/N BRANCH BREED/SPECIES
