20201461
Unit 21
(P5) State 3 legislations that are designed to inform hospitals and medical
providers how they must keep patients and staff safe from radiation.
Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17)
The HSE enforces several ionising radiation-related laws, including the 2017 Radiation
Regulations (IRR17). The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information)
Regulations (REPPIR) from 2001 are also applicable. Employers must keep ionising radiation
exposure to a minimum level, according to IRR17. Exposures must not exceed dosage limits
that have been established. Engineering controls and design elements should be used first
to attain the limitations. Employers should create safe work systems and use personal
protection equipment only as a last option if this is not reasonably achievable.
Regulations on Ionizing Radiation (Medical Exposure) 2018 (IR(ME)R)
It is intended at ensuring that it is used safely to safeguard patients from the danger of
injury when exposed to ionising radiation, according to the regulations. The obligations of
duty holders (employer - NHS, referrer - doctor, IR (ME)R practitioner, and operator -
radiographer) for radiation protection are outlined in radiation legislation, as well as the
basic safety criteria that duty holders must satisfy. Minimizing unplanned, excessive, or
inaccurate medical exposures, justifying each exposure to guarantee that the benefits
outweigh the hazards, and optimising diagnostic doses to keep them "as low as reasonably
practicable" for their intended purpose are all part of the job description.
Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR).
The theme of PREPPIR 2019 is radiation emergency preparedness. The Regulations offer a
framework for preparedness measures to guarantee that plans have been established to
respond to the disaster, both on-site and off-site where the public may be affected. The
Regulations ensure that members of the public are informed both before and during a
radiation emergency, ensuring that they are adequately prepared and informed.
(P6) State and explain the role of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in controlling
radiation.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the government agency in charge of overseeing
projects that may or may not expose workers, the general public, or both to radiation.
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive effectively restrict radiation exposure to
employees and others (HSE). They provide flexible and reasonable advice, inspection,
investigation, and enforcement. The HSE's role is critical because it helps to restrict the
quantity of radiation that can escape and cause possible harm to both the general public
and workers by managing radiation exposure for workers and the general public.
, (M3) Compare different health and safety measures used by hospitals to
maximise protection of hospital staff and patients. Include specific measures
for at least 4 different technologies (CT, MRI, XRAY AND ULTRASOUND).
Radiologists must reduce unintended, excessive, and inaccurate medical exposures to a
minimum, justifying each exposure to ensure that the benefits outweigh the dangers, and
optimising diagnostic doses to keep them "as low as reasonably practical" for their intended
purpose.
X-ray technologies use protection equipment such as led/cement walls, dosimeters and
bilayer lead (one of the best methods).
Ultrasound uses non-ionising radiation, so it almost doesn’t have any side effects, the
radiologists should use as less radiation as reasonably practicable.
There are also safety questionnaires for CT, MRI, Ultrasound AND X-Ray.
Ultrasound
For ultrasound there are no actual safety questions, the patient is asked to be careful to not
trip or slip, they are also asked to be careful around the machine. The responsibility of the
radiographer is to ensure that the patient can be safely transitioned across the machine and
seat. The sonographer has to be kept safe when they have to use injections, they have to
use gloves (PPE) when using needles or other sharp objects to prevent any infections. It also
relates to the health and safety work act (1974).
MRI
MRI uses a non-ionising radiation instead it uses electromagnetic fields which can cause a
lot of accidents but the radiation itself is not harmful.
There is a safety questionnaire that has to be completed by the patient before the MRI scan.
There are general questions, for women only and questions about the contrast. The general
questions ask if the patient has a cardiac pacemaker or has ever had a heart surgery, the
question is asked because an MRI can harm implanted cardiac devices. Certain patients,
such as those who rely on their pacemakers, may be at danger because of the powerful
magnets' ability to alter their pacemaker settings.
There are a lot of questions related to metal inside or outside the patient’s body, for
example: metal patches, implants, dentures/dental plates, piercings, electronics etc.,
because as the MRI is working based on the electromagnetic fields, any metal things can just
fly out of the body and severely injure the patient,
The patients are also asked if they are epileptic (can get a seizure), diabetic (contrast effect),
have and heart (heart attack due to a panic attack) or kidney disorders (contrast effects).
For women, they can’t take an MRI scan if they are pregnant (unknown effects) or breast
feeding (contrast effect).
The patient is also asked if they have any tattoos as they can cover up the MRI image.
Unit 21
(P5) State 3 legislations that are designed to inform hospitals and medical
providers how they must keep patients and staff safe from radiation.
Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17)
The HSE enforces several ionising radiation-related laws, including the 2017 Radiation
Regulations (IRR17). The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information)
Regulations (REPPIR) from 2001 are also applicable. Employers must keep ionising radiation
exposure to a minimum level, according to IRR17. Exposures must not exceed dosage limits
that have been established. Engineering controls and design elements should be used first
to attain the limitations. Employers should create safe work systems and use personal
protection equipment only as a last option if this is not reasonably achievable.
Regulations on Ionizing Radiation (Medical Exposure) 2018 (IR(ME)R)
It is intended at ensuring that it is used safely to safeguard patients from the danger of
injury when exposed to ionising radiation, according to the regulations. The obligations of
duty holders (employer - NHS, referrer - doctor, IR (ME)R practitioner, and operator -
radiographer) for radiation protection are outlined in radiation legislation, as well as the
basic safety criteria that duty holders must satisfy. Minimizing unplanned, excessive, or
inaccurate medical exposures, justifying each exposure to guarantee that the benefits
outweigh the hazards, and optimising diagnostic doses to keep them "as low as reasonably
practicable" for their intended purpose are all part of the job description.
Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR).
The theme of PREPPIR 2019 is radiation emergency preparedness. The Regulations offer a
framework for preparedness measures to guarantee that plans have been established to
respond to the disaster, both on-site and off-site where the public may be affected. The
Regulations ensure that members of the public are informed both before and during a
radiation emergency, ensuring that they are adequately prepared and informed.
(P6) State and explain the role of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in controlling
radiation.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the government agency in charge of overseeing
projects that may or may not expose workers, the general public, or both to radiation.
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive effectively restrict radiation exposure to
employees and others (HSE). They provide flexible and reasonable advice, inspection,
investigation, and enforcement. The HSE's role is critical because it helps to restrict the
quantity of radiation that can escape and cause possible harm to both the general public
and workers by managing radiation exposure for workers and the general public.
, (M3) Compare different health and safety measures used by hospitals to
maximise protection of hospital staff and patients. Include specific measures
for at least 4 different technologies (CT, MRI, XRAY AND ULTRASOUND).
Radiologists must reduce unintended, excessive, and inaccurate medical exposures to a
minimum, justifying each exposure to ensure that the benefits outweigh the dangers, and
optimising diagnostic doses to keep them "as low as reasonably practical" for their intended
purpose.
X-ray technologies use protection equipment such as led/cement walls, dosimeters and
bilayer lead (one of the best methods).
Ultrasound uses non-ionising radiation, so it almost doesn’t have any side effects, the
radiologists should use as less radiation as reasonably practicable.
There are also safety questionnaires for CT, MRI, Ultrasound AND X-Ray.
Ultrasound
For ultrasound there are no actual safety questions, the patient is asked to be careful to not
trip or slip, they are also asked to be careful around the machine. The responsibility of the
radiographer is to ensure that the patient can be safely transitioned across the machine and
seat. The sonographer has to be kept safe when they have to use injections, they have to
use gloves (PPE) when using needles or other sharp objects to prevent any infections. It also
relates to the health and safety work act (1974).
MRI
MRI uses a non-ionising radiation instead it uses electromagnetic fields which can cause a
lot of accidents but the radiation itself is not harmful.
There is a safety questionnaire that has to be completed by the patient before the MRI scan.
There are general questions, for women only and questions about the contrast. The general
questions ask if the patient has a cardiac pacemaker or has ever had a heart surgery, the
question is asked because an MRI can harm implanted cardiac devices. Certain patients,
such as those who rely on their pacemakers, may be at danger because of the powerful
magnets' ability to alter their pacemaker settings.
There are a lot of questions related to metal inside or outside the patient’s body, for
example: metal patches, implants, dentures/dental plates, piercings, electronics etc.,
because as the MRI is working based on the electromagnetic fields, any metal things can just
fly out of the body and severely injure the patient,
The patients are also asked if they are epileptic (can get a seizure), diabetic (contrast effect),
have and heart (heart attack due to a panic attack) or kidney disorders (contrast effects).
For women, they can’t take an MRI scan if they are pregnant (unknown effects) or breast
feeding (contrast effect).
The patient is also asked if they have any tattoos as they can cover up the MRI image.
