RADIATION PROTECTION

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RADIATION PROTECTION

• Margaret Evans
• Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering
  Department
• The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust

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Types of Radiation

• Ionising Radiation
• Medical Diagnosis
• X-Ray
• Nuclear Imaging Unsealed Sources of
  Radioisotopes
• Nuclear Medicine Unsealed Sources of
  Radioisotopes
• Treatment
• Linear accelerators
• Sealed Sources of Radioisotopes
• Unsealed Sources of Radioisotopes
• Lasers
• Ultrasound
• Ultraviolet / Infrared
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Radiowaves and Microwaves

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Radiation Areas in the Trust

• Rheumatology
• Bone Densitometry
• (X-ray)
• Chest Radiology
• X-ray
• Dermatology
• Ultraviolet
• Laser

• Radiology Department
• Main department
• Accident and Emergency
• CT Scanner
• Nuclear Imaging
• Ultrasound
• Deanesly Centre
• Radiotherapy
• Deanesly Ward
• Nuclear Medicine
• (Medical Physics Department)
• Wards
• Mobile X-Ray
• Nuclear Medicine / Imaging Patients
• Theatres
• Mobile X-Ray
• Lasers

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Ionising Radiation
Radioactive Materials
Medical Device

• X-ray
• Linear Accelerator
• Can be switched off
• No contamination
• Does not make you radioactive

• Sealed
• No contamination
• Does not make you radioactive
• Exposure

• Unsealed
• Contamination
• Exposure

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SOURCES OF IONISING RADIATION
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Dangers of Ionising Radiation

• None of our senses can detect the radiation
• Effect on health
• High Dose
• Death High dose and doserate to
  large amount of body
• Erythema High dose and doserate to skin
• Sterility High dose and doserate to
  reproductive organs
• Organ Damage High dose at any rate
• Any Dose
• Cancer Any dose, risk depends on
  dose, late effect
• Hereditary Any dose, risk depends on
  dose, late effect
• Defects

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RADIATION SIGNSWhat to look out for!
Laser
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Areas

• Controlled Areas
• Radiation Areas are designated as controlled to
  ensure that exposures are adequately restricted.
• Areas where there is a possibility of
  significant contamination are also controlled.
• Access restricted.
• Warning signs must be used.
• Barriers normally in place but sometimes visual
  control only.
• Supervised Areas
• Areas where the likely exposure is much lower may
  be designated as supervised.

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Where to get advice

• Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA)
• Medical Physics Experts (MPE)
• In this Trust RPA and MPEs can be contacted in
  the Medical Physics Clinical Engineering
  Department
• Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS)
• To be found in each department where radiation is
  used
• Nominated Doctor
• A Consultant Radiotherapist in the Deanesly
  Centre
• Radiologists
• Radiotherapists

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Radiation Safety Committee

• This Committee considers all matters of safety
  pertaining to ionising radiation within the Trust.

EMPLOYER
RADIATION PROTECTION ADVISOR
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
RADIATION SAFETY COMMITTEEE
RADIATION PROTECTION SUPERVISOR
PATIENTS
EMPLOYEES
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Principles of Radiation Protection

• FOR STAFF
• Distance
• Time
• Shielding
• Application of individual dose limits
• FOR PATIENTS
• Justification (and Authorisation)
• Optimisation

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Local Rules

• Required for Controlled areas
• Recommended for Supervised areas
• THEY SPECIFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE REGULATIONS
  IN YOUR PARTICULAR AREA
• YOU
• HAVE TO READ THEM
• HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEM
• HAVE TO SIGN THAT YOU HAVE READ UNDERSTOOD THEM
• MUST COMPLY WITH THEM