The Radiation Safety Special Interest Group is a truly multidisciplinary group as radiologists, radiographers and scientists all have both an interest in patient protection and also a radiation protection self-interest!
Management group members
We respond to policy and guidance consultations from governments and their agencies and communicate concerns about issues to those bodies from our members. We represent the BIR on various projects and committees where radiation protection is an issue (e.g. NRES, IEC, DH Working Group on EU Directive revision).
BIR and IPEM now have a representative on the DICOM WG-28 (Physics). Ed McDonagh, a Diagnostic Radiology Physicist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London has been appointed by the two institutes to represent UK interests in the DICOM standard. WG-28 leads on some supplements, for example some of the radiation dose structured report work alongside WG-02 (projection radiography and angiography), and can contribute to all the other working groups as necessary. Read Ed’s latest report here.
Free on-demand webinar on Guidance on using shielding on patients for diagnostic applications
This was recorded on 28 April 2020
Helen Hughes, The Head of Quality & Governance for Radiology, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Read more about the Patient Shielding Guidance here
Radiation Safety Advice Sheets
Download five safety advice sheets produced by this SIG on radiation risks, PPE, keeping dose ALARP, Ionising radiation equipment and non-medical referrers.
The Diagnostic Radiological Equipment Installation and Replacement Guide is a special check list, invaluable for anyone installing new radiological equipment and has been developed and designed by the BIR Radiation Safety Special Interest Group. Download here or access via the BIR Sharing Platform.
BIR Safety Campaign
The BIR Safety Campaign communicates safety advice and recommendations and helps to spread the word about safety issues within our community to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients and staff.
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Latest SIG News - March 2021
The SIG management group met in March by videoconference and had a positive and engaged meeting. Main items to highlight are below:
- The much anticipated Radiation Safety 2021 course launched in October and has been receiving excellent feedback. 100% of participants rated the course "excellent" or "good" and every participant would recommend to colleagues. Dose 2021 Part 1 “Understanding the principles of optimisation and safety” launched in March and is also receiving great feedback. Dose 2021 Part 2 “Optimisation and safety in practice” will follow in a few weeks. Special rates for BIR members and group packages are available.
- The European Consensus on Patient Shielding will be bringing out a consensus across Europe and this will highlight our report on shielding
- The SIG’s IRMER update in September 2020 had gone ahead in a virtual format and had received 90% good or excellent feedback for educational content. If missed it you can watch it free by clicking on the link above.
- IRMER 2021 will go ahead virtually again 24 September – watch out for more information soon.
- The SIG are also considering running events onSetting up a dose teamandCommunicating risk and benefit to patients and comforters and carers
In other news:
- Pre-funded Open access publishing – you can now publish your work in BJR or DMFR at no cost to you as long as the corresponding author is affiliated to a participating university. Find out more here.
- Check out the BIR’s impressive collection of videos and courses in the Online Learning Library (OLL).
- The 2020 Annual Congress was adapted to a virtual format and was the most successful to date. If you missed it, many of the presentations can be found in the Online Learning Library.
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