Unit 21 C
Health and safety regarding ionising and non-ionising
medical instruments
Health and safety executive (HSE) legislations:
The HSE is a legislative body responsible for regulating and enforcing health and safety matters
in medical establishments in the UK. The organisation carries out numerous inspections on the
use of specific medical instrumentation and equipment as well as the operating conditions of
staff and works with the law to ensure that the findings of its reports are properly enforced where
necessary. In conjunction with this enforcement agency, regulation of medical devices and
medicines is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA). This is an executive agency of the Department of Health (DoE). It works with the law
to ensure that the findings of its reports are properly enforced where necessary. As yet, there are
no proton beam synchrotrons available in the UK. A few current HSE are:
- The IRR17: This requires employers to keep exposure to ionising radiations as low as
reasonably practicable. Exposures must not exceed specified dose limits.
- Radioactive Substances Act 1993: This is the control of radioactive waste to protect the
environment.
- REPPIR (The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations
2001).
Safe operating procedures (SOP):
SOP are procedures put in place to protect both patients and doctors from ionising and non-
ionising radiation equipment such as, dosage of radiation. This is because safety from harm is
their priority.
The few procedures for the doctor are:
- All medical staff using the equipment must have qualified and relevant training.
- They must be confident and knowledgeable about the operations and its limitations.
- Confirm the medical details with the patients before they go along with the treatment.
- Take full responsibility of the procedure.
, - Minimise the dosage at the patient.
- Understand the biological effects and potential hazards regarding the medical instrument.
- Identify and accept the scope of use of the procedure to be undertaken and to adhere
strictly to the planned procedure.
- Follow or develop a formal plan or scheme of work for the procedure to be undertaken,
using documented medical guidelines.
The few procedures for the patient are:
- Understand the biological effects and potential hazards regarding the medical instrument.
- They must be confident and knowledgeable about the operations and its limitations.
- Have a detailed understanding and knowledge of the equipment to be used and ensure
that regular inspection and maintenance of the equipment has taken place.
What is ionising and non-ionising radiation and what is the difference between them?
There are 2 types of radiation for medical applications, ionising radiation and non-ionising
radiation; these are methods which involves the use of ionising radiation (Alpha, Beta or
Gamma) or non-ionising radiation (e.g., ultraviolet, visible or Infared) to medically screen or
proceed with procedures to diagnose or treat patients. The difference is that one can damage
healthy and unhealthy cells whereas the other cannot.
Consent from patient:
It is always important for consent to be given, by the patient first. This is because the patient has
the ionising or non-ionising technique used upon them and they may have certain personal or
health issues that do not allow them to proceed.
Health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of X-rays:
X-rays can penetrate through soft tissues and get absorbed by denser material and their high
energy. X-rays emit ionising radiation which can be helpful in killing cancerous or unhealthy
cells and tumours. In addition, it's all harmless and the patient feels no physical pain, but it still
carries risk due to exposing the patient to a dosage of ionising radiation. To reduce absorption of
X-rays by healthy cells, X-rays are filtered through a thin metal plate before going through the
patient. The radiographer moves behind a protective screen and starts the X-ray. The reason for
Health and safety regarding ionising and non-ionising
medical instruments
Health and safety executive (HSE) legislations:
The HSE is a legislative body responsible for regulating and enforcing health and safety matters
in medical establishments in the UK. The organisation carries out numerous inspections on the
use of specific medical instrumentation and equipment as well as the operating conditions of
staff and works with the law to ensure that the findings of its reports are properly enforced where
necessary. In conjunction with this enforcement agency, regulation of medical devices and
medicines is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA). This is an executive agency of the Department of Health (DoE). It works with the law
to ensure that the findings of its reports are properly enforced where necessary. As yet, there are
no proton beam synchrotrons available in the UK. A few current HSE are:
- The IRR17: This requires employers to keep exposure to ionising radiations as low as
reasonably practicable. Exposures must not exceed specified dose limits.
- Radioactive Substances Act 1993: This is the control of radioactive waste to protect the
environment.
- REPPIR (The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations
2001).
Safe operating procedures (SOP):
SOP are procedures put in place to protect both patients and doctors from ionising and non-
ionising radiation equipment such as, dosage of radiation. This is because safety from harm is
their priority.
The few procedures for the doctor are:
- All medical staff using the equipment must have qualified and relevant training.
- They must be confident and knowledgeable about the operations and its limitations.
- Confirm the medical details with the patients before they go along with the treatment.
- Take full responsibility of the procedure.
, - Minimise the dosage at the patient.
- Understand the biological effects and potential hazards regarding the medical instrument.
- Identify and accept the scope of use of the procedure to be undertaken and to adhere
strictly to the planned procedure.
- Follow or develop a formal plan or scheme of work for the procedure to be undertaken,
using documented medical guidelines.
The few procedures for the patient are:
- Understand the biological effects and potential hazards regarding the medical instrument.
- They must be confident and knowledgeable about the operations and its limitations.
- Have a detailed understanding and knowledge of the equipment to be used and ensure
that regular inspection and maintenance of the equipment has taken place.
What is ionising and non-ionising radiation and what is the difference between them?
There are 2 types of radiation for medical applications, ionising radiation and non-ionising
radiation; these are methods which involves the use of ionising radiation (Alpha, Beta or
Gamma) or non-ionising radiation (e.g., ultraviolet, visible or Infared) to medically screen or
proceed with procedures to diagnose or treat patients. The difference is that one can damage
healthy and unhealthy cells whereas the other cannot.
Consent from patient:
It is always important for consent to be given, by the patient first. This is because the patient has
the ionising or non-ionising technique used upon them and they may have certain personal or
health issues that do not allow them to proceed.
Health and safety risks, side effects and limitations of X-rays:
X-rays can penetrate through soft tissues and get absorbed by denser material and their high
energy. X-rays emit ionising radiation which can be helpful in killing cancerous or unhealthy
cells and tumours. In addition, it's all harmless and the patient feels no physical pain, but it still
carries risk due to exposing the patient to a dosage of ionising radiation. To reduce absorption of
X-rays by healthy cells, X-rays are filtered through a thin metal plate before going through the
patient. The radiographer moves behind a protective screen and starts the X-ray. The reason for
