Please read the document below then fill in the form at the bottom of the page. Your certificates will be sent to you by email.
CT SAFETY
Local Rules for Radiation Safety at Ramsay Mobiles (inc. Alliance Van)
Diagnostic and Interventional X-ray Equipment – Ancillary Staff
1. INTRODUCTION
These Local Rules have been drawn up in accordance with Regulation 18 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations, 2017. They cover work in X-ray Controlled Areas by staff who will not have received training in radiation protection as part of their professional qualification. Much of this work will be undertaken outside of normal working hours i.e. unsupervised by those with radiation protection training.
All relevant staff, e.g. porters, cleaners, and maintenance staff, must read these Local Rules and indicate by the agreed method that they have read them and understood the requirements of the Rules. A controlled electronic and/or paper copy must be readily available to all staff.
2. RADIATION PROTECTION SUPERVISOR(S) (RPS)
The RPS supervises work with ionising radiation and ensures that the Local Rules (safe systems of work) are observed. The RPS should be informed whenever a matter concerning radiation protection arises and their advice sought. The Radiation Protection Supervisors for the X-ray Controlled Areas on this site are:
Rosalee Brissett 07975768739
Edward Wekesa 07879880796
3. CONTROLLED AREAS
Warning signs
All rooms in which X-ray equipment is used are called Controlled Areas.
You can tell if you are about to enter a Controlled or Supervised Area by the signs on the door.
• The yellow part of the sign with the radiation warning symbol and tells you about the area.
• The red part of the sign gives the instructions that you must follow.
This example is for a Controlled Area where X-rays are used, you must not enter without the permission of a qualified member of the department staff.
Warning lights
At each entrance, there are warning lights. They have three possible combinations of lights on or off
Unlit – there is no power to the X-ray equipment and no chance of exposure.
Only the Yellow part is lit – the room is a “Controlled Area”. There is power to the equipment and an exposure could be made at any time.
Red part is lit – the X-rays are on. You must not enter the room.
4. GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENTERING CONTROLLED AREAS
i. Ancillary staff are not classified workers and may only enter and work in X-ray Controlled Areas provided that they follow the key work instructions contained in these Local Rules.
ii. Ancillary staff are not subject to routine personal dosimetry for work in X-ray Controlled Areas as they do not carry out any duties during X-ray exposure.
iii. In the extremely unlikely event that it was necessary for work to be carried out in a Controlled Area during X-ray exposure, ancillary staff would be provided with an electronic dosemeter. A suitable investigation level – IRR17 Regulation 9(8) – would be 0.3 mSv.
iv. If Ancillary Staff enter designated areas (supervised areas or controlled areas) and they are employed by a different employer to the one in charge of the designated area, and they are providing a service, they are an ‘outside worker’. If you think this applies to you, you should bring this to the attention of the RPS or department manager as they should provide you with a copy of the risk assessment to share with your employer. This states the risk and actions taken to protect you.
5. KEY WORK INSTRUCTIONS
5.1. Drivers
• You must have the permission of a member of the RDUK staff to enter. If the red part of the warning light is on, you must wait for it to turn off before entering.
• You should never enter a controlled area without the permission of a qualified member of staff , whether the room is in use or not.
• All equipment MUST be switched OFF before attempting scanner pack down and transport. Please contact Ramsay On Call number if unsure or equipment appears to be on.
• ALL drivers must have basic radiation training as part of their induction or Bi yearly refresher. RDUK will assist in the delivery and monitoring of this.
5.2. Maintenance staff
• If you are asked to carry out work in an X-ray Controlled Area you must speak to a senior member of the radiology team, and preferably a Radiation Protection Supervisor, to agree an appropriate time to carry out that work. You should never enter a controlled area without the permission of a qualified member of RDUK staff, whether the room is in use or not.
• When you attend to carry out the work, if the red part of the warning light is on, do not attempt to enter the room.
• If the yellow ‘Controlled Area’ sign is lit, you must knock loudly on the door and wait for a response or speak to one of the radiographers in the office to request access to the room. Outside normal working hours, if there is no response to your knocking on the door and there are no radiographers around to request access, open the door a little to confirm that the equipment is not in use.
• When in the room you must not attempt to use the X-ray equipment or interfere with it in any way.
• X-ray rooms have shielding incorporated into the walls and doors to stop the X-rays affecting people in the areas around the room. If any maintenance work may have affected this shielding, the Radiation Protection Supervisor must be notified.
• Hand over sheets MUST be completed upon any work done to any X-Ray equipment or Ancillary equipment
5.3. Cleaners
Entry to Controlled Areas for cleaning
• If the warning light is unlit, there is no risk of exposure from the equipment and you may enter the room
• If the yellow ‘Controlled Area’ sign is lit, you must knock loudly on the door and wait for a response or speak to one of the radiographers in the viewing area. Request access to clean the room and if this is not convenient, agree a later time with radiographic staff. Some of X-ray equipment must be left switched on, and so the yellow ‘Controlled Area’ sign will always be lit, even out of hours. Where this is the case, the equipment will be left so that it is not possible to accidentally make X-rays.
• If you are cleaning out of normal working hours and the yellow ‘Controlled Area’ sign is lit
o and there is no response to your knocking on the door
o and there are no radiographers around to request access
open the door a little to confirm that the equipment is not in use. If it is in use, agree a convenient time to return with the radiographer carrying out the examination.
• If the red part of the warning light is on, you must NOT enter the room.
Once in a controlled area
• When in the room you should not attempt to use the equipment or interfere with it in any way.
Should you have any concern about any piece of equipment in your area of work, e.g. if you suspect the equipment has been damaged, you should tell a radiographer. If you are working out of hours you must contact either the on-call/duty radiographer, the Radiation Protection Supervisor or your direct supervisor and report your concern.
• Cleaning report should include any special notes from the above point
Please use the form below to confirm you have read the safety information above.
