Topic 19: The ionising radiations regulations Flashcards
RP principles?
Justification (it needs to worth the radiation), optimisation (Restrict exposure to as low as reasonably achievable) Limitation (no one gets more than a dose limit)
Who is responsible for radiation safety?
Chief executives
Before starting work what do you do?
Consult and appoint an RPA
Notify HSE or apply for registration or consent
Radiation risk assessment
Designate areas
Appropriate PPE and systems of work for restriction of exposure
Contingency plans
Instruct and train employees
What ways can we notify the HSE?
- Notification
- Work with very small quantities of radioactive material - Registration (you get asked more questions)
- If you work with radiation generators
- or work with radioactive Materials - Consent
- Operation of an accelerator
What is included in a radiation risk assessment?
Why? - To identify all radiation hazards to which employees or other persons might be exposed and assess the nature and magnitude of risks associated with the hazards.
Who? - The employer who carries out work with ionising radiation is responsible for making sure the risk assessment is completed.
When? - Before commencing a new activity involving work ionising radiation for which there is no existing risk assessment.
What kinds of things do you put in your RRA?
Nature of sources of ionising radiation to be used
Estimated radiation dose rates to which anyone can be exposed
The likelihood of contamination arising and being spread
The results of any previous personal dosimetry or area monitoring relevant to the proposed work
Advice from the manufacturer or supplier of equipment about its safe use and maintenance
When are controlled designated areas used?
Necessary where:
special procedures necessary to restrict significant exposure
significant risk of spread of contamination
person likely to receive E> 6mV.
A supervised area
- Doesnt meet the criteria of a controlled area (as in only uses small amounts) but area where conditions need to be kept under review
- Person likely to receive E > 1mSv
- Signs to warn of designation, nature of hazard and risks.
Classified workers
A classified worker can go into a controlled area. However every one else can go in as well by a loophole.
Local rules
written rules required for work in controlled and possibly supervised areas.
Radiation protection advisor
advises employer on application of IRR2017
Ways of restriction of exposure?
Design Dose constraints Systems of work Personal protective equipment Training
How can design be used to restrict exposure?
Shielding - lead in walls and doors - lead glass screens - syringe shields Equipment features - collimation - filtration - dose saving factors Emergency stop buttons Room layout Warning signs
How can dose constraints be used to restrict exposure?
A planning tool not a dose limit Identify potential exposed groups Set a dose constraint for each group Design facility so that this constraint will not be exceeded Audit once running
Systems of work
- Procedural controls come after design controls
- Keeping doses ALARP and below classification levels
- Restrict:
Amount of radiation
Duration of exposure
Number of people exposed
Permits to work if dose rates high enough
Personal protective equipment has to be?
adequate and suitable
examples: lead aprons
Training
Nature and hazard of radiation
Legal requirements
Use of design controls
Selection and use of PPE
What do breastfeeding and pregnant workers need to do?
Restriction of exposure to prevent significant bodily contamination
Requires extra risk assessment
Assume woman in breastfeeding when returning to work after maternity leave
What happens when theres an incident?
Notify HSE
Who are the ionising radiation regulations aimed at?
Patients Health screening programmes Research Carers and comforters Asymptomatic individuals Individuals undergoing non-medical imaging with medical equipment
Who are the responsible persons?
Referrer Practitioner Operator Employer Medical Physics expert
Referrer ?
A registered health care professional who is entitled to refer individuals for medical exposure to a practitioner.
ASK S FOR IT
Practitioner
A registered health care professional who is entitled to take responsibility for an individual medical exposure.
JUSTIFIES IT
Operator?
Does it. No need to be a registered health care practitioner.
Employer
who has legal responsibility for a given radiological installation.
Employers procedures and protocols
- Construct employers procedures,
- Protocols: establish the dose constraints
- Establish recommendations
Employers procedures
Patient ID, Pregnancy ID referrer, operator and practitioner Ensure QA Dose assessment Info on benefits and risks
Medical physics expert
- Science degree or equivalent
- Experienced in application of physics to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of ionising radiation
- Involved in every medical exposure
- Advise on compliance
Justification and authorisation ?
Justification - by the practitioner Authorisation - by the practitioner - or by operator acting under written guidelines "dont act beyond your experience"
What is a diagnostic reference level
a dose level, or amount of radioactivity used in a diagnostic procedure for typical examinations. When it is exceeded it can be questioned. Because there is no dose limit.
Are DRLs changed for age?
yes.
How can Diagnostic Reference Levels be measured?
Dose Area Products.
What are carers and comforters?
“individuals knowingly and willingly incurring an exposure to ionising radiation by helping, other than as part of their occupation, in the support and comfort of individuals undergoing or having undergone medical exposure.”
What are classified workers and describe the arrangements a radiation employer must put in place for any such employee
a classified person is someone who will receive more than 6mSv and they will be certified by a doctor and will be tracked for their dose over the year by a certified HSE dosimetry service
Local rules enable work to be carried out in accordance with ____
IRR2017
The local rules are the responsibility of who to read and supply?
They employer
What essential content is required for the local rules?
The dose investigation level and the the names of the protection supervisors and the contigency arrangements for foreseeable incidents and the description of the areas
a radiation protection adviser advises employer on application of _____
IRR2017
Radiation protection supervisor role?
to supervise work in areas where local rules are required
What is a dose constraint?
a planning tool.
what are some examples of SoW (systems of work)
use of shielded areas
keeping away from patient table in interventional radiology unless necessary
Use of PPE and dosemeters
examples of PPE in radiology?
Lead aprons
Pb specs
Lab coats and gloves
after being notified that someone is pregnant the ____ should ensure that exposure is restricted so that foetal dose is ALARP.
employer
List 5 examples of incidents to be reported to the HSE?
- Too much dose
- Too much exposure
- Loss
- Spillage
- Working with radiations
