Back Module: S-DR-S4

Practical Radiation Protection

Module information

Module details

Title
Practical Radiation Protection
Type
Specialist
Module code
S-DR-S4
Credits
15
Phase
3
Requirement
Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module will provide trainees with a wide range of practical skills which they will require to work effectively as radiation protection professionals.

Work-based content

Training activities

# Learning outcome Training activity Type Action
# 1 Learning outcome 1, 2 Training activities

Undertake the design of a simple radiation installation e.g. dental or general x-ray

 Type ETA Action View
# 2 Learning outcome 1, 2 Training activities

Contribute to the design of a complex radiation installation involving either a mixture of radiation sources or external beam radiotherapy

 Type DTA Action View
# 3 Learning outcome 2 Training activities

Prepare a risk assessment for an ionising radiation facility and make recommendations on the provision and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE)

 Type ETA Action View
# 4 Learning outcome 2 Training activities

Prepare a risk assessment for a non-ionising radiation facility and make recommendations on the provision and maintenance of PPE

 Type ETA Action View
# 5 Learning outcome 2 Training activities

Undertake a critical examination of an ionising radiation facility and report findings

 Type DTA Action View
# 6 Learning outcome 3, 4 Training activities

Undertake a dose survey and/or measurements of radiation dose around an ionising radiation installation, analyse the results and make recommendations on the adequacy of shielding and designation of areas

 Type ETA Action View
# 7 Learning outcome 3, 4 Training activities

Review the results of staff personal monitoring for a department using ionising radiation and feedback on the results

 Type ETA Action View
# 8 Learning outcome 3 Training activities

Select and use appropriate instrumentation and monitoring equipment for the measurement of radiation, including:

  • X-ray imaging
  • Nuclear medicine
  • External beam radiotherapy
 Type ETA Action View
# 9 Learning outcome 4 Training activities

Estimate a patient’s effective/organ dose and associated risk due to diagnostic exposures, including:

  • General x-ray
  • CT
  • mammography

fetal dose estimate for one of the above

 Type ETA Action View
# 10 Learning outcome 4 Training activities

Estimate a patient’s skin dose due to exposures in interventional radiology and/or cardiology

 Type DTA Action View
# 11 Learning outcome 5 Training activities

Investigate a patient overexposure including the advice on:

  • Whether the exposure should be externally reported
  • Shared learning from the incident
 Type DTA Action View
# 12 Learning outcome 3, 4, 5 Training activities

Investigate a radiation incident involving staff, estimate the radiation dose and make recommendations for future practice

 Type DTA Action View
# 13 Learning outcome 5 Training activities

Contribute to the investigation of an abnormal personal monitoring result

 Type DTA Action View
# 14 Learning outcome 2 Training activities

Carry out safety checks on non-ionising radiation equipment for at least one of the following:

  • Lasers
  • Phototherapy
 Type DTA Action View
# 15 Learning outcome 2, 3, 4 Training activities

Make measurements and estimate occupational exposure of non-ionising radiation for at least one of the following:

  • Lasers
  • Phototherapy
 Type DTA Action View

Assessments

Complete 3 Case-Based Discussions

Complete 3 DOPS or OCEs

Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles

  • Carry out a critical examination on an ionising radiation facility.
  • Carry out and analyse the results of environmental monitoring.
  • Carry out a radiation dose survey on and in areas around ionising radiation equipment.
  • Carry out safety checks on non-ionising radiation equipment.
  • Perform contamination monitoring and record results.

Observed Communication Event Titles

  • Feedback on results of staff personal monitoring at a radiation protection committee (RPC) meeting.
  • Carry out investigatory discussions with a member of staff involved in a radiation incident.

Learning outcomes

# Learning outcome
1

Formulate designs and advice for radiation installations.
2

Critically appraise the risks and safety requirements associated with ionising and non-ionising radiation.
3

Perform and interpret measurements of radiation, draw conclusions on adequacy of control measures and advise on further action.
4

Calculate estimated radiation doses, evaluating the limitations and uncertainties of the approach.
5

Investigate radiation overexposure and incidents and make recommendations for remedial actions and further reporting.

Clinical experiences

Clinical experiences help you to develop insight into your practice and a greater understanding of your specialty's impact on patient care. Clinical experiences should be included in your training plan and you may be asked to help organise your experiences. Reflections and observations from your experiences may help you to advance your practice and can be used to develop evidence to demonstrate your awareness and appreciation of your specialty.

Activities

  1. Attend a site check during construction or installation of new radiation equipment.
  2. Observe the calibration and testing of radiation instruments and monitoring equipment.
  3. Shadow the follow up and investigation of a radiation incident.
  4. Observe patient treatment with laser/phototherapy.

Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)

Important information

The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate extended understanding of the principles of operation and use of a range of radiation measuring equipment.
  2. Apply integrative knowledge of radiation protection principles and legislation to the design of radiation facilities.
  3. Apply integrative knowledge of legislative requirements or guidance within diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and non-ionising radiation practices.
  4. Discuss investigation of an incident involving radiation exposure to a patient or member of staff, including assessment of radiation dose and risk.

Indicative content

Instrumentation for radiation protection Ionisation chambers

Geiger tubes

Survey meters

Contamination meters

Personal dosemeters (including different technologies available)

Matching instrumentation to task

Calibration of monitors detailed above

Practicalities of use
Monitoring Environmental/area monitoring

  • Radiation surveys
  • Passive environmental monitoring
  • Reporting monitoring of designated areas

Personal monitoring

  • Operational dose quantities
  • ADS
  • Monitoring positions
  • Investigation levels
  • Internal dosimetry
  • Real time dosimetry
Design of diagnostic radiology facilities Room design

Shielding calculations

Sources of reference information

Examples for radiography, dental radiography including cone beam, mammography and CT
Design of nuclear medicine facilities Gamma camera rooms

Radionuclide therapy treatment rooms

Radiopharmacy

Cyclotrons and radionuclide production facilities

Practical examples
Design of hybrid facilities Rooms and layout

Shielding calculations

Sources of reference information

Practical examples
Design of radiotherapy facilities Linac bunkers

  • Construction materials and layouts
  • Primary and secondary barriers
  • Maze design
  • Door designs and construction
  • Neutron protection
  • Adjacent facilities

Brachytherapy facilities

  • HDR selectron rooms
  • Theatres and wards

Practical examples
Operational radiation protection in diagnostic radiology Layout of facilities

Risk assessments

Local rules

Contingency plans

Staff protection

Patient protection

Incidents
Operational radiation protection in nuclear medicine Layout of facilities

Risk assessments

Local rules

Contingency plans

Staff protection

Patient protection

Incidents

 

 
Operational radiation protection in radiotherapy Layout of facilities

Risk assessments

Local rules

Contingency plans

Staff protection

Patient protection

IRMER duty holders

Incidents
Practical non-ionising radiation safety Laser safety

  • Overview of clinical applications
  • BSI manufacturing standards
  • Accessible emission limits
  • Nominal optical hazard distance
  • CE marking
  • MHRA guidance
  • Artificial optical radiation directive (AORD)
  • Laser local rules and risk assessments
  • Duty holders and responsibilities
  • Routine checks and practical tips
  • Eye damage

UV Safety

  • Overview of clinical applications
  • Sources of UV radiation
  • Hazards of UV
  • Radiometric terms and units
  • Radiometric calculations
  • Personal UV dosimetry
  • Exposure limits
  • UV protection

Optical/microwave applications and safety
Doses from medical exposures Assessment of patient dose in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine

Typical doses and risks

Dose reduction techniques

Module assigned to

Specialties

Specialty code Specialty title Action
Specialty code SPE1-6-22 Specialty title Radiation Safety and Diagnostic Radiology [2022] Action View
Specialty code SPE1-6-23 Specialty title Radiation Safety and Diagnostic Radiology [2023] Action View
Specialty code SPE1-6-24 Specialty title Radiation Safety and Diagnostic Radiology [2024] Action View
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