19 September 2016
The British Institute of Radiology launches new radiation safety guidance for healthcare staff
The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) has produced posters, videos and a book on personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff working with radiation, to help reduce exposure to diagnostic X-rays and develop radiation safety knowledge in and beyond the radiology department. The guidance gives practical advice on how staff should select, wear and store their PPE. Importantly it gives clear advice on how to comply with regulations, and prepare a risk assessment.
It is crucial that protective aprons, head and eye wear are worn and fitted correctly to protect the body against dangerous radiation levels. If stored incorrectly, the equipment can become damaged and that immediately reduces its effectiveness.
The book,Personal Protective Equipment for Diagnostic X-ray Use, is a practical guide to using and caring for PPE and is written by Peter A Hiles, Helen Hughes, Denise Arthur and Colin J Martin as part of a BIR Working Party with support from the BIR Radiation Safety Special Interest Group (SIG). Products created in conjunction with the book are two A2 sized posters,Caring for your PPEandWearing your PPEand three videos,Wear and Fit,Care and StorageandScreening PPE.
The resources are for radiologists, trainees, radiographers at all levels, radiology managers, radiation protection advisors (RPAs), medical physicists, vets, dentists, nurses and clinical application specialists.
Peter Hiles, co-author and Chair of the BIR Radiation Safety SIG said, “We have a duty to ourselves and to our teams to ensure radiation safety at all times. These are essential resources for anyone who enters the X-ray room from newly qualified to experienced staff. Please ensure they are on display and in use by everyone in your team”.
Jacqueline Fowler, Chief Executive, BIR, said “We are delighted to support healthcare staff with these much-needed resources and we are grateful to our Radiation Safety SIG for raising this as an area of concern”.
Warren Goodall, Business Development Manager at Midland Lead Healthcare says “Midland Lead Healthcare are very pleased to support the BIR in producing this resource which educates and reminds staff of the importance of radiation safety in their day to day work”.
The book and posters are available to purchase from https://birorgukportal.force.com/BookList (special discount for BIR members) and the videos can be viewed for free on the PPE resources page: http://www.birpublications.org/ppe.
We are grateful for the support of Midland Lead Healthcare to produce the PPE posters and videos.
ENDS
