NM Flashcards
1
Q
For Tc-99m, when does IRR17 apply?
A
> 100 Bq/g and > 10 MBq
2
Q
What is included in a risk assessment?
A
- description of work
- nature of hazard (energy, activity, half-life)
- exposed persons
- contamination
- control measures
- accidents (spill, ingestion, needlestick)
- location
- doses and dose rates (routine and accidents)
3
Q
When must local rules be used?
A
for controlled areas
4
Q
What must be included in the local rules?
A
- description of area
- working instructions to restrict exposure
- access arrangements
- dose investigation levels
- name of RPS
- contingency plan
5
Q
What else may be included in the local rules?
A
- testing and maintanence
- dosimetry of staff
- audit and compliance
- details of RPA
6
Q
When is a contingency plan required?
A
where the accident could result in an exposure which exceeds normal planned exposures
7
Q
Examples of when a contingency plan is required
A
- spills
- personal contamination
- loss of source
8
Q
Who should be notified of staff over-exposures?
A
HSE
9
Q
Effective dose
A
sum of equivalent doses to the exposed organs or tissues multiplied by tissue weighting factors
helps estimate risk from stochastic effects
10
Q
How can percutaneous absorption be minimised?
A
- PPE (gloves, apron, arm coverings)
- quick removal of contaminated
- dose monitoring is important
11
Q
What should you do after a needlestick injury?
A
- wash area with soap
- encourage bleeding
- contamination monitoring
12
Q
How to minimise dose from extravasation?
A
- check lines with saline
- elevate the arm
- squeeze stress ball
13
Q
Legislation involved in radionuclide therapies
A
- IRR17 (staff and public)
- IRMER17 (patient and ARSAC)
- EPR (licence and waste)
14
Q
What is included in a therapy risk assessment?
A
- external dose rate from patient
- excretion factors
- contact restrictions
- visitors
15
Q
How are restriction times calculated?
A
- post-administration dose rates at different distances
- clearance curves
- administred activity
- dose constraints
16
Q
Why are restriction times for younger children longer?
A
After the restriction period is over, they tend to have more prolonged and closer contact with the patient
17
Q
What is a sealed source?
A
a non-dispersable source
flood source for QA
18
Q
What is a high-activity sealed source?
A
sealed source for which the quantity of the radionuclide is equal to or exceeds the relevant quantity value
brachytherapy, requires additional security measures
19
Q
What is a open source?
A
one which can be dispersed but is not waste
Tc-99m vials, Mo/Tc generator
20
Q
What is radioactive waste?
A
any open or sealed source which can no longer be used and above a certain threshold
21
Q
What is the key legislation for the control of RAM?
A
Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016
Enforced by the Environmental Agency
22
Q
What does EPR govern?
A
- the amount of RAM which can be held for a particular purpose
- how it is kept and used
- how RAW is disposed of
23
Q
When is a source no longer a source?
A
- after patient administration
- any source moved to accumulating waste
- liquid sources being discharged as waste to drains
- open sources transferred to another permitted holder
24
Q
Whic category is least hazardous under EPR?
A
category 5 sealed source
25
What is included in a EPR permit?
* permitted activities (storage and use of RAM, accumulation of RAW, production, transport)
* permitted radionuclides and max activity limits
* RAW (activity, volume limits, accumulation period)
* waste disposal routes (annual/monthly activity limits, disposal route)
26
What are Publicly Available Permits for?
unsealed source and associated waste
| must display
27
What are Standard Rules Permits for?
all sealed sources taken together must fall into category 5 and don't accumulate waste
| do not display permit
28
What are Security Permits for?
sealed source and associated waste
| cat 1-4
29
Control measures to restrict unauthorised access to open sources held under a “Publicly Available” permit
* sources under continous supervision
* suitable container in a suitable store
* hazard warning signage
* locks
* training of staff to support
30
Actions “Publicly Available” permit conditions require to do if radioactive material has been lost or stolen
* inform police and EA
* recover the sources as far as is reasonably practicable
* report the situation to the EA in writing ASAP
31
What is an orphan source?
a source which has fallen out of regulatory control
32
What are the permit conditions for a HASS source?
* security in line with NaCTSO restricted doc
* photos of sources
* timely police response to alarm
* Deter, Detect, Delay, Respond
33
NaCTSO
National Counter Terrorism Security Office
34
CTSA
Counter Terrorism Security Advisor
| advise the EA if security measures are satisfactory
35
ARSAC
Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
36
Assurances before an ARSAC licence is issued
* staff training
* suitable facilities for administering
* emergency procedures
* management of RAW
* QA
37
Requirements for a Practitioner ARSAC licence
medically qualified and meet the training requirements
*(they are qualified to justify the exposures)*
| not site specific
38
Requirements for a Employer ARSAC licence
must have available suitable equipment, facilities, and support staff
| one per site
39
NM Practicies requiring Registration
radiation generators
transport of RAM
40
NM Practicies requiring Consent
administration
manufacture
HASS for therapy
storage/disposal of waste
41
When and why is an environmental impact assessment made?
* before an EPR permit can be obtained
* used to define the limits in the permit
42
What is included in an environmental impact assessment?
* radiological and chemical properties of waste
* activity released
* waste route
* identification of critical groups and estimated doses
| if estimated dose >300uSv/yr, more in-depth assessment required
43
What are the principles of BAT?
* minimise activity of RAM kept and used
* minimise period over which RAW is accumulated
* minimise the activity of RAW that will require to be disposed
* prevent the loss of a source
* minimise the volume of RAW disposed of by transfer
44
Examples of BAT
* segregating waste by radionuclides reduces the volume
* extending storage times reduce the dose to the environment
* use alternative radionuclides to reduce the complexity of waste procedures
45
What is the limit for Very Low Level Waste?
< 400 kBq per 0.1 m^3
or
< 40 kBq per item
46
CDG
**Carriage of Dangerous Goods**
competent authority: Office of Nuclear Regulation
| implements ADR
47
Who are the duty holder as defined in ADR/CDG?
**Consignor:** sender
**Carrier:** transporter
**Consignee:** receiver
48
What are the responisbilities of the driver transporting RAM in an emergency?
* carry emergency plan
* notify emergency services, local authority, consignor
* assist in the handling of a radiation emergency
49
What are the responisbilities of the consignor in an emergency?
* notify emergency services, health authority
* notify ONR if emergency plan was initiated
* assist in handling of a radiation emergency
50
What are the responisbilities of the carrier in an emergency?
* arrange for examination of load for contamination
* arrange for safe disposal/ decontamination
51
What is an Exempt package?
for Tc-99m limit = 10 MBq
| not subject to the regs
52
What is an Excepted package?
* limit = 400 MBq
* external surface dose rate < 5 uSv/hr
53
What is an Type A package?
* limit = 4 TBq
* external surface dose rate < 10 mSv/hr
54
What are the design requirements for a Type A package?
* hard wearing
* easily decontaminated
* no collection/retention of water
* easily carried and secured
55
What tests are carried out on Type A packaging?
* water spray
* free fall from 9 m
* stacking
* penetration
56
Transport Index
dose rate (uSv/h) at 1m / 10
57
How is the category of a Type A package determined?
the TI and max surface dose rate are used
58
White I
TI: 0
DR: < 0.005 mSv/h
59
Yellow II
TI: 0-1
DR: 0.005 - 0.5 mSv/h
60
Yellow III
TI: 1-10
DR: 0.5 - 2 mSv/h
61
Yellow III*
TI: > 10
DR: 2 - 10 mSv/h
62
What labelling is used for radioactive packages?
* UN number
* consignor/consignee details
* class 7
* contents, activity, TI
* radioactive tape
63
What is incuded in transport of RAM documentation?
* class 7
* name of radionuclide
* physical and chemical description
* max activity
* names and address of consignor and consignee
64
What equipment should a vehicle transporting RAM have?
* PPE
* fire extinguisher
* chock
* eyewash
* training certificates
* emergency plan
* photo ID
65
Purpose of REPPIR
**Radiation Emergency Prepardness and Public Information Regs 2019**
ensures that employees and the public are informed and prepared before an event, and provided with info in the case of an radiation emergency
66
Example of Category 1 source
gamma knife
| most dangerous
67
Example of Category 2 source
industrial radiography
high/medium DR brachy
68
Example of Category 3 and 4 sources
density moisture gauges
low DR brachy
69
Example of Category 5 source
any Practice with A/D < 0.01
*A = source activity*
*D = activity at which source becomes dangerous*
70
What is the minimum security level?
D
| duties are imposed by IRR and EPR rather than REPPIR
71
Radiation Emergency
a non-routine event which is likely to result in a member of the public receiving an effective dose of >= 1 mSv during the year following the emergency
72
Who are the legal duties placed on under REPPIR?
* operators of radiological and nuclear installations
* transporters of RAS via a public place (pipelines not road, air..)
* local authorities
* employers of people who intervene
73
When does REPPIR not apply?
* activity conc < 100 Bq/g
* non-dispersable sources
* RAS in type B and C packages
74
What are the operator responsibilities under REPPIR?
* hazard evaluation and consequence assessment
* site emergency plan
* liase with LA about public info and off-site plan
* declare radiation emergency
75
Detailed Emergency Planning Zone
* emergency plan must be detailed
* consequence assessment determines the extent of DEPZ
* takes into account operator's proposal and factors specific to LA area
76
Outline Emergency Planning Zone
* plans only outlined
* a likelihood of 1 in 20,000 in 5 years is the point at which outline planning is sufficient
77
What are the local authorities responsibilities under REPPIR?
* determine DEPZ
* prepare off-site emergency plan
* arrangements to provide public info
* provide prior info to those in DEPZ
* make info available in an emergency
78
What is included in an off-site emergency plan?
* keep doses ALARP
* critical and long-term recovery phase
* reference levels for exposure
79
Who do emergency exposures apply to?
Emergency workers who have been pre-identified and trained
