Radiology

Risk of:

• Infection.

Possible causes:

• Exposure to infectious aerosols or infected patient body fluids.

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.

Risk of:

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

Possible causes:

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

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.

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.

Risk of:

• Sprains, strain or back injuries.

Possible causes:

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

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.

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.

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.

Risk of:

• Physical and / or psychological effects.

Possible causes:

• Confused, uncooperative, disoriented or violent patients.

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