SErIES IAEA HumAn HEAltH SErIES IAEA Hum

5.1.2. Radiation protection and safety
The requirements for radiation protection and safety are found in the
International Basic Safety Standards [4]. In addition, there is a requirement for
other types of safety including electrical, mechanical and laser safety.
5.1.2.1. Medical exposure
It is required that the following activities occur:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Justification of the examination, which is initiated by the referring medical
practitioner but is the final responsibility of the radiological medical
practitioner (see Section 4.1.1);
Optimization of procedures, which is the joint responsibility of radiologists,
radiographers and medical physicists (see Sections 4.1.3.2, 4.1.3.4 and
5.1.4);
Quality assurance for equipment under the supervision of the medical
physicist (see Section 5.1.3);
Patient dosimetry under the supervision of the medical physicist (see
Section 5.1.5);
Calibration of instrumentation under the supervision of the medical
physicist (see Section 5.1.6).
In addition, there should be documented policies and procedures for:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Risk assessment and management;
Dose audits for common examinations for comparison with relevant DRLs;
Optimization of imaging examinations;
Size adjusted imaging techniques for paediatric patients;
Pregnant or potentially pregnant patients [24, 27–29], which includes:
—Signage;
—Verification of pregnancy status;
—Optimization of examination procedures;
—Documentation of foetal dose estimates;
Accidents and incidents (e.g. accidental exposures).
Comforters and carers of patients must be provided with adequate radiation
protection, as appropriate.
48