Radiation Management Plan

Radiation Management Plan

(EXAMPLE of the type of information expected. Practices are expected to provide specific details e.g. about students/trainees and the courses that they are undertaking. The Plan will be supported by practice protocols and procedures, to be referenced in the plan but not submitted with it.)

For: Penny Roust

(Applicant for licence to possess/licence holder) holder of licence L/000125 to possess

of Roust Veterinary services

(organization)

for the practice of: Veterinary radiography

to be carried out at: 2 Mineral Street, Burnie and at field locations

Plan prepared by: Daniel Roust (RSO)

Date: 20/06/2006

Contact details: telephone: facsimile: email:

Plan accepted by Penny Roust…………………. (applicant/licence holder) who hereby agrees to adhere to all requirements in the plan

Signature;

Date: 24/06/2006

Date for review: 24/06/2007

Introduction:

This plan has been prepared in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Radiation Protection Regulations 2006. The purpose of this plan is to ensure that the practice of veterinary radiography is conducted as safely as possible and in compliance with the Radiation Protection Act 2005 and the Radiation Protection Regulations 2006.

Compliance with this radiation management plan will help ensure that the radiation doses to users, other persons involved in the practice, members of the public and the environment are below the prescribed limits and are as low as reasonably achievable. It will also help ensure that the number of people exposed to radiation and the likelihood of unexpected exposure to radiation are minimised.

The plan is to be read by everyone in Roust Veterinary Service.

Information required by Regulation 8, Radiation Protection Regulations 2006 /

Details of plan (Examples of type of information expected)

(a) a brief description of the type and scope of the radiation practice; / Radiography in vet practice – mainly small animals radiographed in designated area of surgery (certificate of registration no. nn) but occasionally x-ray horses at field locations. 2 vet surgeons use the x-ray units.
(b) a list of the radiation sources dealt with in the radiation practice; / 1 portable and 1 fixed X-ray unit – see attached details, extracted from the licence document.
(c) an assessment of the potential hazards from the radiation sources dealt with in the radiation practice; / Exposure to radiation from: primary X-ray beam; scattered radiation; tube head leakage.
(d) details of the environment likely to be exposed to radiation during the radiation practice; / Vet surgery and adjacent rooms; for field radiography: - area within primary beam out to about 10 metres plus area within about two to three metres around X-ray tube
(e) the radiation principles, work practices (including quality-assurance procedures) and equipment (including personal radiation monitors) used to ensure that radiation exposure of persons or the environment is as low as is reasonably achievable during typical types of work carried out within the radiation practice; / Radiograph taken only if clinically justified; ensure workload specified in the Certificate for Registration for the surgery is not exceeded; collimate beam; Adhere to vet CoP[1];
Operators trained and authorized on licence; Restraints used as per CoP; Protective clothing provided for operators and assistants; use distance/shielding to minimize the dose to operators.
Personal monitor used as area monitor for surgery; another monitor worn by vet for field radiography;
QA protocol developed and available for x-ray film handling and developing, including recording and investigating repeat radiographs.
(f) details of the classes of persons likely to be exposed to radiation during the radiation practice, including –
(i) children; and / No person under 16 allowed to be in vicinity of x-ray unit whilst radiography in progress.
(ii) pregnant women; and / May assist with radiography but only if wear protective clothing, stand at least 2 metres from x-ray tube and if exposure to foetus will not exceed public dose limit. Practice takes fewer than 5 radiographs per week and so this limit will not be exceeded with above protective measures in place.
(iii) volunteers in biomedical research; and / Not relevant
(iv) persons exempt from section 13(1) of the Act under Part 10; / No students/trainees at present.
Other persons: Assistants and persons authorized on the licence to “use” the x-ray units
(g) the maximum dose of radiation it is anticipated a person of a class of persons specified in paragraph (f) will receive while the radiation principles, work practices and equipment referred to in paragraph (e) are being used, and the action to be taken if those doses are exceeded; / Personal monitors should indicate <100 µSv per three-month period. Will immediately review practices and notify DPH if doses above this level are recorded.
(h) details of a course of study or training that –
(i) is being or will be undertaken by a person who is expected to be dealing with a radiation source in the radiation practice; and
(ii) requires, as part of that course of study or training, the person to deal with the radiation source in the radiation practice; / No students/trainees at present.
(i) the name, qualifications and experience of the supervisor of a person referred to in paragraph (h)(i) while undertaking that part of a course of study or training referred to in
paragraph (h)(ii);
(j) the training and information to be provided to persons involved in carrying out the radiation practice; / In-house radiation safety awareness training for ALL staff; staff assisting with radiography to read CoP and RPS1[2] and licence conditions and demonstrate an understanding of the requirements in these.
(k) the name and contact details of the radiation safety officer for the radiation practice; / Daniel Roust; vet surgeon;
phone: nnn; email: nnn; fax: nnn.
(l) a brief description of the role of the radiation safety officer; / Sections 2.2 and 2.3 of CoP;
Section 5 of RPS1; attached “Duties of the RSO”.
Ensure personal monitoring conducted appropriately and that monitors are stored with the control when not in use.
(m) a brief description of the resources available to the radiation safety officer to enable him or her to perform his or her role under the radiation management plan; / Budget includes funding for personal radiation monitoring, QA program, replacement of protective clothing, compliance testing; radiation protection training for staff.
(n) a description of the roles and responsibilities, that are relevant to a
dealing with the radiation source in the radiation practice, of all persons
authorised by the licence to deal with the radiation source in the radiation practice; / All staff: responsible for following the radiation practices specified in this plan;
RSO: see above;
Operators named on licence – as per licence conditions;
All staff – obey warning signs and written instructions (developed and placed in prominent location in surgery) aimed at minimizing their exposure to radiation;
All staff: to report to RSO any matter that may compromise radiation safety
(o) the methods used to ensure that the persons referred to in paragraph (n) are aware of their obligations under the Act and the licence; / Radiation safety awareness training includes provision of information about the licence and its conditions
(p) details of how the radiation source in the radiation practice will be prepared for use, repaired, maintained, transported, stored and disposed of; / X-ray units to be checked by service engineer for mechanical and electrical safety on an annual basis; compliance checks every four years;
Field unit to be packed carefully in transport box to avoid damage during transport and to be set up as per manufacturer’s instructions, on stand, for field use.
A unit will be disposed of in accordance with Act,
a)such that it cannot be reassembled for use, or
b)sold
when no longer required.
(q) details of any emergency response plans for the radiation practice including reporting to the Director of Public Health; / X-ray unit will be switched off/unplugged immediately if aberrant radiation output suspected. DPH will be informed of any malfunction of the X-ray unit that could have resulted in unexpected irradiation of any person or of any situation where person could have been exposed inadvertently.
(r) details of procedures that are designed to minimise the radiation hazard arising from a radiation incident; / X-ray unit will be switched off/unplugged immediately if aberrant radiation output suspected.
(s) details of reporting procedures for incidents adversely affecting, or likely to adversely affect –
(i) equipment used in the radiation practice; or
(ii) the environment; or
(iii) the health or safety of any person; / Staff are required to report any malfunction of the x-ray unit/observed damage to unit (e.g. frayed cords, dents in tube casing) to RSO immediately. Any other incident also to be reported to RSO who will take immediate action and pass on information to Penny Roust for any further investigation and action.
(t) details of record-keeping requirements including details of the records that will be kept of movement of any mobile radiation source in the radiation practice; / Records of all radiographs will be maintained for at least seven years and will indicate the operator, exposure factors, patient and view. Record of disposal of unit will be maintained as per Regulation 26, Radiation Protection Regulations 2006.
(u) details of the use of radiation warning signs and labels in the radiation practice. / Warning labels on the X-ray units and on surgery entrances, as per CoP.

Referenced documents:

• CoP: Code of practice for the safe use of ionizing radiation in veterinary radiology: Parts 1 and 2 (1982) published by the NHMRC
• RPS1: National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation [NOHSC:1013(1995)] republished in 2002 by the chief executive officer of ARPANSA
• Radiation Protection Regulations 2006
• Radiation Protection Act 2005

Attached details:

• Details of x-ray units (licence schedule/application form)
• List of authorized users (licence schedule/application form)
• Duties of the RSO

Duties of the RSO:

The RSO will:

(a) supervise the radiation protection aspects of the radiation practice that are specified in the radiation management plan; and

(b) operate and interpret the readings from radiation monitoring equipment that is required for the radiation practice; and

(c) understand the precautions (including the use of protective clothing and equipment) to be taken in carrying out the radiation practice; and

(d) understand the extent to which the precautions referred to in paragraph (c) will restrict exposure to radiation; and

(e) know the actions required to carry out the emergency procedures specified in the radiation management plan; and

(f) assist the holder of the licence to implement the employer’s duties specified in Chapter 5 of the National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation [NOHSC:1013(1995)] republished in 2002 by the chief executive officer of ARPANSA; and

(g) carry out the duties specified for a radiation safety officer in Code of practice for the safe use of ionizing radiation in veterinary radiology: Parts 1 and 2 (1982).

______

Health Physics Branch / Phone: 03 6222 7256 / Sample RMP Veterinary Practice
90 Davey Street / Fax: 03 6222 7257 / Issued: 30 June 2006
Hobart Tas 7000 / Email: / Review date: 30 June 2007
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[1] ARPANSA Code of practice for the safe use of ionizing radiation in veterinary radiology: Parts 1 and 2 (1982)

[2]National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation [NOHSC:1013(1995)] republished in 2002 by the chief executive officer of ARPANSA