Radiation Safety Legislation Flashcards
1
Q
What is IRCP?
A
- International Commission for Radiological Protection
- ICRP103
- provide recommendations and guidance
- system of radiological protection
2
Q
What are the basic principles of the ICRP system?
A
- justified
- so more good than harm
- optimised
- ALARP
- limited
- no person receives an unacceptable level of exposure
3
Q
What are the basic principles of the ICRP system?
A
- justified
- so more good than harm
- optimised
- ALARP
- limited
- no person receives an unacceptable level of exposure
4
Q
what is IAEA?
A
- International Atomic Energy Authority
- model regulations
- use of radiation sources
- management of associated radioactive waste
- based on ICRP recommendations
5
Q
What are. the two vital pieces of legislation in the UK?
A
- Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR17)
- Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IRMER17)
6
Q
What is IRR17?
A
- deals with occupation exposures and exposure of general public
- enforced by health and safety executive (HSE)
- employer responsible for arrangements for compliance
- employees responsible for following safety arrangements
- training for staff operating x-ray units
- basic radiation safety measures
- basic understanding of risk, awareness and regulations
- annual dose limits for radiation workers and public
- radiation workers
- whole body limit of 6mSv/yr - public
- whole body limit of 1mSv/yr
- radiation workers
7
Q
What is IRMER17?
A
- deals with medical exposures of patients
- patients as part of diagnosis or treatment
- health screening
- research
- asymptomatic individuals
- carers and comforters
- individuals undergoing non-medical imaging
- health assessment for employment/immigration/etc.
- radiological age assessment
- identification of concealed objects in the body
- enforced by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)
- employer responsible for arrangements for compliance
- patient identification
- entitlement of staff
- information provided to patients - employees responsible for following safety arrangements
- duty holders
- referrer
- referral for imaging
- provided with image and report - practitioner
- examination to justify and authorise referral - operator
- examine, authorise and carry out
- assess and report image - employer
- dentist may perform all of these roles
- referrer
8
Q
What is the implication for IRR17 for dentists?
A
- NHS
- NHS responsible for compliance as employer
- private
- owner responsible for compliance as employer
- employer must obtain registration from HSE for x-ray use
- obtained through HSE website
- answer questions on compliance arrangements
- fee of £25
- registration for use of a radiation generator
9
Q
What is a radiation protection advisor (RPA)?
A
- person meeting HSE requirements to advise on radiation safety
- employers should consult RPAs about:
- designation of areas
- prior examination of plans for installations
- regular equipment checks
- periodic testing of safety features and warning devices
- radiation risk assessment and dose assessment
- investigations
- contingency plans
10
Q
What must a radiation risk assessment include?
A
- what safety features are required?
- adjacent areas protected
- additional plasterboard/lead in walls
- what level of radiation exposure could staff receive?
- ALARP
11
Q
What is a controlled area?
A
- area around the equipment depending on the risk assessment and workload levels
- 1.5mm for intra-oral x-ray units
- signage required
- when entire room is controlled area
- when entrance leads directly to controlled area
12
Q
What is a practitioner in IRMER17?
A
- registered health care professional
- decide locally which groups can refer
- must have adequate training
- responsible for justifying and authorising scams
- ensuring ALARP
- complying with employers procedures
12
Q
What is a referrer in IRMER17?
A
- registered health care professional
- decide locally which groups can refer
- responsible for providing sufficient medical data
- practitioner uses to justify
- employer provides referral criterial
13
Q
What is an operator in IRMER17?
A
- anyone who carries out practical aspects that can affect patient dose
- person taking x-ray
- person performing quality control on x-ray unit
- person cleaning film processor
- person forming clinical evaluation
- responsible for limiting patient dose consistent with purpose
- following employers procedures
- not perform exam unless authorised as justified
14
Q
What is optimisation in IRMER17?
A
- exposures are ALARP, consistent with intended purpose
- selection of appropriate investigations
- selection of appropriate equipment
- use of appropriate exposure factors
- ensuring quality assurance is carried out
- assessing patient dose
- adhering to diagnostic reference levels
- responsibility of practitioner and operator
