Radiology

A list of some of the common hazards found within the radiology department in hospitals.

header-radiology

Biological Agents

Risk of:

  • Infection.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to infectious aerosols or infected patient body fluids.

Chemical Agents

Risk of:

  • Adverse health effects.
  • Cuts.
  • Fire.
  • Explosion.
  • Hit by projectiles.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to contrast agents during preparation and administration e.g. inoculation injury.
  • Exposure to disinfectants.
  • Cuts from metal crimps or broken glass contrast media bottles.
  • Damaged, dropped or mishandled gas cylinders.
  • Exposure to lead used as shielding in diagnostic imaging areas.

Electricity

Risk of:

  • Burns.
  • Electric shock.
  • Death.
  • Fire.

Possible causes:

  • Overloading of sockets.
  • Faulty or badly maintained equipment.

 

Ergonomic Hazards

Risk of:

  • Pain in neck, back or arms.
  • Musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome.

Possible causes:

  • Poor computer or workstation set up.
  • Use of pinch grip when handling X-ray cassettes.
  • Adapting awkward postures when positioning X-ray equipment.

 

Ionising Radiation

Risk of:

  • Genetic / cell / tissue damage.
  • Cancer.
  • Reproductive health problems.
  • Death.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to ionising radiation whilst carrying out X-ray scans, CT scans, fluoroscopy, mammography, angiocardiograms, radiotherapy or nuclear medicine procedures.
  • Exposure following radioactive material spill such as a liquid spill on floor or clothing.
  • Unintentional energising of X-ray tube.
  • Physical damage leading to equipment malfunction or damage to shielding of irradiating apparatus.
  • Inappropriate procedures.
  • Contact with contaminated articles or waste.
  • Failure to follow safe systems of work or restrict areas.
  • Poor storage of radioactive sources.

Manual / Patient Handling

Risk of:

  • Sprains, strain or back injuries.

Possible causes:

  • Lack of mechanical aids.
  • Improper lifting or transfer technique.

 

Noise

Risk of:

  • Hearing loss or damage.
  • Physiological effects.
  • Work-related stress.
  • Increased risk of accidents.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to noisy machines e.g. MRI equipment.

 

 

Non Ionising Radiation

Risk of:

  • Physical injury.

Possible causes:

  • Exposure to magnetic fields whilst performing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • Staff with MR unsafe implants e.g. pacemakers.
  • Ferromagnetic items pulled into the bore of the magnet.

 

Slips, Trips and Falls

Risk of:

  • Physical injury ranging from minor cuts to more serious injury such as broken limbs.

Possible causes:

  • Damaged or uneven floors.
  • Wet floor due to fluids, blood, vomit or other body fluids.
  • Trailing cables.

 

Violence and Aggression

Risk of:

  • Physical and / or psychological effects.

Possible causes:

  • Confused, uncooperative, disoriented or violent patients.

 

Further Information

For further information on related controls click here.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of hazards and risks.