Thrums Veterinary Group, Kirriemuir
Local Rules for X-ray
1. The Radiation Employer, for the purposes of the Ionising Radiations Regulations, is Thrums Veterinary Group Ltd. and the Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS) is Gavin Durston.
It is the duty of the RPS to enforce these Rules and report incidents or non-compliances with the Rules or the Regulations as appropriate.
The statutory investigation dose for this installation is 2 mSv/yr.
2. The statutory requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations must be observed.
3. Only those persons who have signed off the Local Rules are authorised to use the x-ray equipment, or others specifically authorised from time to time by one of those individuals.
4. The equipment operator must stand outside the room and entirely behind the structural wall, to make the exposure. The equipment operator must call out x-rays, ensure the unshielded section of the prep area is vacated and ensure that no person enters the unshielded area or the x-ray room during the exposure. The equipment operator must sight the x-ray unit controls to ensure that the orange light on the controls has gone off or otherwise enact the contingency plan.
Only vertical or near-vertical beam radiography is permitted.
Under no circumstances are humans to be x-rayed – equipment strictly for veterinary use only.
5. The x-ray room is a controlled area when x-rays are being emitted. Company policy supports the BVA Guidance Note 3.35 etseq: the use of anaesthesia or sedation must always be considered before recourse to manual restraint during radiography.Any persons necessarily present within the x-ray room during an exposure must:
a) be over 18 years of age;
b) not be pregnant;
c) wear a lead apron, and lead gloves or sleeves if holding the patient or cassette during the exposure;
d) wear a dosimetry badge in accordance with the supplier instructions for use;
e) ensure that no part of the body or hands is within the primary beam area;
f) ensure their name/s are recorded within the exposure log book.
6. Any incident resulting in a suspected exposure of any person or unintentionally large exposure of any animal to radiation must be reported promptly internally to H&S Manager AND also externally to the Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA).
The appointed RPAs are:
Dr Alan Calverd and Mr Shahed Khan
Office (M-F 9am-5pm): 020 8893 4766
Emergency Page (24/7): 01422 400135
7. The RPS must review the exposure log book at least monthly, and consider whether, in the light of any changes in exposure factors or comments, there has been any change in the performance of the imaging equipment. If in doubt, consult the RPA.
8. Regarding exposures:
a) No patient may be exposed to x-radiation until the patient file records the clinical indication for that exposure;
b) A report must be made, in the patient’s file, for every exposure;
c) Requests for “unreported” films may only be accepted from persons approved by the Employer and listed in the Referrers file;
d) The minimum dose necessary for diagnosis shall be used and the beam shall be collimated to expose only the region of interest. Each exposure must be logged in the daybook against the patient’s name, with sufficient detail (kV, mAs, FFD, region of interest) to allow the utilised dose to be estimated. The daybook must be initialled.
9. In the event of failure to terminate an x-ray exposure:
a) RELEASE THE EXPOSURE HAND SWITCH AND DON THE LEAD GOWN;
b) ENTER THE ROOM AND SWITCH OFF AT THE MAINS POWER SWITCH WITHOUT TURNING AN UNSHIELDED BACK TO THE PATIENT POSITION / SCATTER FIELD;
c) REMOVE THE PATIENT FROM THE ROOM IMMEDIATELY;
d) CLOSE THE DOOR AND EVACUATE THE X-RAY ROOM FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR;
(There is a possible explosion hazard from an overheated tube)
e) WRITE DOWN ANY INFORMATION (EXPOSURE FACTORS, ETC) THAT WILL HELP CALCULATE ANY PROBABLE STAFF DOSES AND ESTABLISH THE CAUSE OF THE FAULT;
f) INFORM THE RPA AND THE SERVICE ENGINEER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE;
g) FIX A “DO NOT USE” NOTICE TO THE CONTROLS AFTER THE EVACUATION PERIOD.
10. Image processing procedure is the key to optimising staff doses:
Conduct any digital processing quality assurance regularly as required, such as erasure of the CR cassettes at least every week and periodic uniformity testing;
Process exposed CR cassettes immediately after exposure and return them to the bottom of the stack, to ensure they are used in rotation;
Retain all images, including “failed” exposures – these may prove diagnostic of equipment problems;
Contact the supplier in the event of image quality deterioration or persistent artefacts appearing on the clinical images.
11. The equipment will be serviced by an x-ray engineer at least annually or without undue delay in the event of a fault being reported.
12. The PPE will be visibly inspected prior to every use and must not be utilised if it is unfit for purpose (visibly damaged). Such damage must be reported immediately to the RPS. The PPE will be returned to appropriate storage directly following each use and must not be folded or crushed when this is done. One gown must be stored outside the x-ray room for access.
13. Female staff: only upon formal declaration of a pregnancy will the pregnancy risk assessment be performed and the 1 mSv (public) dose limit will then be applicable to a foetus for the remaining term of the pregnancy. (The public dose limit is not enforceable retrospectively.)