A generic approach to risk assessment for the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) require that an explicit risk assessment be carried out to control properly the risks associated with the use of ionising radiation. Prior to IRR99, risk was controlled implicitly via mechanisms such as Local Rules and staff monitoring, which were initiated by the Radiation Protection Adviser using professional judgement. To enable a consistent approach across our Trust's radiation users, a generic model of risk assessment was employed. This had been developed previously by the Trust in response to a national initiative within the NHS to manage risk. The methodology involves the generation, by a multidisciplinary staff brain-storming session, of a complete list of all possible risks. This is followed by a risk stratification process based upon severity of consequence and frequency of risk. Auditable controls are then applied and quantifiable outcome measures are monitored for continued compliance. Template risk assessments are presented to aid others in this process. It is estimated that even in a large teaching hospital with a full complement of medical radiation applications, the time resource necessary for this approach is of the order of a few days.
Department of Medical Physics, Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
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D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011859:Radiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom
D011868:Radioisotopes