Unit 21: Medical Physics Applications
Learning aim C: Understand health and safety, associated risks, side effects and limitations
of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in medical applications.
Within the United Kingdom all organisations by UK Law must conduct health and safety
inspection, which is then documented into a health safety policy and with all risks coming
with safety advice. The upkeep of the workplace and any equipment is a vital duty to any
employer, they must ensure equipment is safe to use, works efficiently, any health hazards
are found, side effects of using any machinery are found and assessed, limitations of any
equipment are found. Employers must then act to put right any safety concerns that may
arise or take steps to ensure the safety of their employees.
This is also true to the medical world, all medical imaging equipment have their own health
and safety risks, limitations to using the device and side effects that may be incurred due to
over interaction with the equipment. Both ionising and non-ionising radiation equipment
must be assessed and are no exception to this.
Non-Ionising radiation
Non-ionising radiation medical equipment can cause damage to the human body. Even
though non-ionising radiation does not penetrate through bone or tissue, it can be
damaging based on the amount of energy applied or length of exposure to when it is
applied. This can lead to health risks such as, burning or scarring of the skin tissue and eyes,
effects on the nervous system which could lead to disorientation or nausea. Below are
health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of non-ionising medical equipment.
Health and safety of non-ionising radiation equipment
Lasers are an example of non-ionising radiation equipment, which have the capability to
damage biological tissue. Lasers are mostly used to treat medical conditions for the skin,
tissue, and eyes since these sections of the body are the most vulnerable to tissue damage
and burning. Stray optical radiation is a massive health and safety risk, because UV and IR
radiation is emitted, which are invisible to the human eye and can burn or damage the eye if
exposed to this level of radiation.
MRI is another example of non-ionising radiation, which also has health and safety risks
involved, there is a risk of metal objects propelling themselves towards the MRI machine
due the MRIs strong magnetic field strength. Any metal implants or pacemakers must be
removed prior to the procedure, as it can be dangerous and life threatening to the patient
due to the strong magnetic field and is imperative that patients show this information when
it requested by consultants prior to conducting any procedures.
, Ultrasounds are also a type of non-ionising radiation equipment which uses energy of
ultrasound waves, which has the potential to harm or damage tissue by heating them.
Additionally due to the heating they could produce gas pockets within the body tissue.
In addition to the damages caused to patients for over exposure, there are also risks on the
staff running the equipment, such as unwanted radiation exposure. Due to this it becomes
so important that preventative measure is in place and are being reviewed and updated
regularly for the safety and wellbeing of not on the patients but the staff as well.
Side effects of non-ionising radiation equipment
There are also various side effects of using non-ionising technology. For instance,
ultrasounds can lead to different side effects. Endoscopic ultrasound which generates
pictures of nearby internal organs through the placing of a long and thin tube into the
patient’s oesophagus or rectum. This method can detect of the following conditions,
analysis of the heart, cancer detection, pancreatic cyst and gallstone detection which is very
intrusive. These procedures can have side effects on the patient which include experiencing
pain or discomfort, this can be relieved from taking painkillers or alternatively using a
sedative. The oesophagus can also be sprayed with a mild anaesthetic. Nevertheless, these
will eventually wear off and the patient can go to experience abdominal pain, sore throat,
vomiting or even a get a mild infection. Lasers also side effects which include scarring, pain
or even bleeding during or after the procedure and skin tone changes.
Transvaginal scans are a procedure which require the insertion of an ultrasound probe into
the vaginal region, its duration within the vagina can be between 20 to 30 minutes. The
probe can be used to investigate ovarian cyst, pelvic pain, fibroids, and abnormal bleeding.
The procedure can extremely uncomfortable and painful.
Limitations of non-ionising technology
There are however limitations to non-ionising technology. One example is if a pregnancy
ultrasound is being taken or a pelvic pain is being analysed, the patient should be
recommended to drink water and keep it until the scan is complete. Another example is if
an ultrasound of the digestive system were to be taken, the patient would not be allowed to
eat for few hours prior to the procedure. Additionally, using lasers to treat patients may be
only temporary or not complete. Certain groups of people such as young children might not
be able to have lasers done on them. An added limitation is that if patients have metal
implants, such as fillings or pacemakers, they may not be suitable for an MRI scan, which is
due to the MRI machine having a strong magnetic field. Also, patients that have
claustrophobia are not suitable for using the MRI machine, as it would be harder for the
scan to be taken. Additionally, the MRI can be noisy when turning on and off which may
scare or throw off the patient from doing the procedure.
Learning aim C: Understand health and safety, associated risks, side effects and limitations
of ionising and non-ionising instrumentation techniques in medical applications.
Within the United Kingdom all organisations by UK Law must conduct health and safety
inspection, which is then documented into a health safety policy and with all risks coming
with safety advice. The upkeep of the workplace and any equipment is a vital duty to any
employer, they must ensure equipment is safe to use, works efficiently, any health hazards
are found, side effects of using any machinery are found and assessed, limitations of any
equipment are found. Employers must then act to put right any safety concerns that may
arise or take steps to ensure the safety of their employees.
This is also true to the medical world, all medical imaging equipment have their own health
and safety risks, limitations to using the device and side effects that may be incurred due to
over interaction with the equipment. Both ionising and non-ionising radiation equipment
must be assessed and are no exception to this.
Non-Ionising radiation
Non-ionising radiation medical equipment can cause damage to the human body. Even
though non-ionising radiation does not penetrate through bone or tissue, it can be
damaging based on the amount of energy applied or length of exposure to when it is
applied. This can lead to health risks such as, burning or scarring of the skin tissue and eyes,
effects on the nervous system which could lead to disorientation or nausea. Below are
health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of non-ionising medical equipment.
Health and safety of non-ionising radiation equipment
Lasers are an example of non-ionising radiation equipment, which have the capability to
damage biological tissue. Lasers are mostly used to treat medical conditions for the skin,
tissue, and eyes since these sections of the body are the most vulnerable to tissue damage
and burning. Stray optical radiation is a massive health and safety risk, because UV and IR
radiation is emitted, which are invisible to the human eye and can burn or damage the eye if
exposed to this level of radiation.
MRI is another example of non-ionising radiation, which also has health and safety risks
involved, there is a risk of metal objects propelling themselves towards the MRI machine
due the MRIs strong magnetic field strength. Any metal implants or pacemakers must be
removed prior to the procedure, as it can be dangerous and life threatening to the patient
due to the strong magnetic field and is imperative that patients show this information when
it requested by consultants prior to conducting any procedures.
, Ultrasounds are also a type of non-ionising radiation equipment which uses energy of
ultrasound waves, which has the potential to harm or damage tissue by heating them.
Additionally due to the heating they could produce gas pockets within the body tissue.
In addition to the damages caused to patients for over exposure, there are also risks on the
staff running the equipment, such as unwanted radiation exposure. Due to this it becomes
so important that preventative measure is in place and are being reviewed and updated
regularly for the safety and wellbeing of not on the patients but the staff as well.
Side effects of non-ionising radiation equipment
There are also various side effects of using non-ionising technology. For instance,
ultrasounds can lead to different side effects. Endoscopic ultrasound which generates
pictures of nearby internal organs through the placing of a long and thin tube into the
patient’s oesophagus or rectum. This method can detect of the following conditions,
analysis of the heart, cancer detection, pancreatic cyst and gallstone detection which is very
intrusive. These procedures can have side effects on the patient which include experiencing
pain or discomfort, this can be relieved from taking painkillers or alternatively using a
sedative. The oesophagus can also be sprayed with a mild anaesthetic. Nevertheless, these
will eventually wear off and the patient can go to experience abdominal pain, sore throat,
vomiting or even a get a mild infection. Lasers also side effects which include scarring, pain
or even bleeding during or after the procedure and skin tone changes.
Transvaginal scans are a procedure which require the insertion of an ultrasound probe into
the vaginal region, its duration within the vagina can be between 20 to 30 minutes. The
probe can be used to investigate ovarian cyst, pelvic pain, fibroids, and abnormal bleeding.
The procedure can extremely uncomfortable and painful.
Limitations of non-ionising technology
There are however limitations to non-ionising technology. One example is if a pregnancy
ultrasound is being taken or a pelvic pain is being analysed, the patient should be
recommended to drink water and keep it until the scan is complete. Another example is if
an ultrasound of the digestive system were to be taken, the patient would not be allowed to
eat for few hours prior to the procedure. Additionally, using lasers to treat patients may be
only temporary or not complete. Certain groups of people such as young children might not
be able to have lasers done on them. An added limitation is that if patients have metal
implants, such as fillings or pacemakers, they may not be suitable for an MRI scan, which is
due to the MRI machine having a strong magnetic field. Also, patients that have
claustrophobia are not suitable for using the MRI machine, as it would be harder for the
scan to be taken. Additionally, the MRI can be noisy when turning on and off which may
scare or throw off the patient from doing the procedure.
