how do you check lead aprons?

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 15:36:40 GMT

Good luck. £16/person is good.

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

caz vn1 — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 13:13:16 GMT

absolutely. I worked out cost using JAK badges would be £16 per person per year so total for all staff less than £300 so not exactly costing the earth!

will keep trying. Hopefully he will get sick of me going on at him and give in!

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 18:36:47 GMT

Find that some people aren't scared of radiation cos you can't see it. At the end of the day it prob won't cost too much to monitor the clinical staff better to safe than sorry

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

caz vn1 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:26:13 GMT

Thanks Nick appreciate the time you have taken to help. I will print this all off to show to the boss and practice manager

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 23:08:12 GMT

Taken from Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999. Dose assessment and recording 21.—(1) Every employer shall ensure that— (a) in respect of each of his employees who is designated as a classified person, an assessment is made of all doses of ionising radiation received by such employee which are likely to be significant; and (b) such assessments are recorded. (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the employer shall make suitable arrangements with one or more approved dosimetry service for— (a) the making of systematic assessments of such doses by the use of suitable individual measurement for appropriate periods or, where individual measurement is inappropriate, by means of other suitable measurements; and (b) the making and maintenance of dose records relating to each classified person. (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), the arrangements that the employer makes with the approved dosimetry service shall include requirements for that service— (a) to keep the records made and maintained pursuant to the arrangements or a copy thereof until the person to whom the record relates has or would have attained the age of 75 years but in any event for at least 50 years from when they were made; (b) to provide the employer at appropriate intervals with suitable summaries of the dose records maintained in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) above; (c) when required by the employer, to provide him with such copies of the dose record relating to any of his employees as the employer may require; (d) when required by the employer, to make a record of the information concerning the dose assessment relating to a classified person who ceases to be an employee of the employer, and to send that record to the Executive and a copy thereof to the employer forthwith, and a record so made is referred to in this regulation as a “termination record”; (e) within3months,orsuchlongerperiodastheExecutivemayagree,oftheendofeach calendar year to send to the Executive summaries of all current dose records relating to that year; (f) when required by the Executive, to provide it with copies of any dose records; (g) whereadoseisestimatedpursuanttoregulation22,tomakeanentryinadoserecord and retain the summary of the information used to estimate that dose; (h) where the employer employs an outside worker, to provide, where appropriate, a current radiation passbook in respect of that outside worker; and (i) where the employer employs an outside worker who works in Northern Ireland or another member State, maintain a continuing record of the assessment of the dose received by that outside worker when working in such place. (4) The employer shall provide the approved dosimetry service with such information concerning his employees as is necessary for the approved dosimetry service to comply with the arrangements made for the purposes of paragraph (2). (5) An employer shall— (a) ensure that each outside worker employed by him is provided with a current individual radiation passbook which shall not be transferable to any other worker and in which shall be entered the particulars set out in Schedule 6; and (b) make suitable arrangements to ensure that the particulars entered in the radiation passbook are kept up-to-date during the continuance of the employment of the outside worker by that employer. (6) The employer shall— (a) at the request of a classified person employed by him (or of a person formerly employed by him as a classified person) and on reasonable notice being given, obtain (where necessary) from the approved dosimetry service and make available to that person— (i) a copy of the dose summary provided for the purpose of paragraph (3)(b) relating to that person and made within a period of 2 years preceding the request; and (ii) a copy of the dose record of that person; and (b) when a classified person ceases to be employed by the employer, take all reasonable steps to provide to that person a copy of his termination record. (7) The employer shall keep a copy of the summary of the dose record received from the approved dosimetry service for at least 2 years from the end of the calendar year to which the summary relates.

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:47:47 GMT

JAK do personal dose badges. I agree you boss should be providing you with badges at the end of the day they provide lead aprons. Badges are considered part of the PPE of radiography.

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

caz vn1 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:00:37 GMT

Nick. I totally agree with you. Maybe if I print off all these comments I might get a better response. It's worth a try. Only solution I can come up with otherwise is for staff to choose to buy their own for their own peace of mind although I really don't think that should have to happen at all

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:21:03 GMT

Surly you need to make sure that the barium plaster/lead walls are adequately protecting you from any scatter? Do you ever inflate your anaesthetised chest rads? As this would require you to stay in the room during exposure. With regards for TP status I would expect that all members of clinical staff whether students, qualified VNs or vets should all have dose badges. I now work in the NHS in radiology and all clinical staff have to wear a badge. We very rarely stay in the room during exposure. Stand behind lead glass screen. But need to monitor that the protection is adequate.

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

caz vn1 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:54:21 GMT

Hi Nick

Thanks for the info. I have spoken to the RPA as I actually know him. He said he was told no one ever held animals or stayed in the room during exposures so therefore environmental dosimeters were considered adequate. However if not the case should have them personally. I have argued this point for the last 6 months. Numbers of xrays being held has decreased massively (nurses all refusing now) but still does happen. Also CAW found out no personal dosimeters and they require all staff to have them for TP status. somehow boss thinks this means only trainees need badges so rest of us go without. I dont know how else to get him to change his mind! suggestions welcome

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 19:34:39 GMT

We use fluoroscopy unit for examining gowns and other lead for signs of cracking. As others have suggested you will see black lines where X-rays have penetrated through any potential cracks. Can't remember the settings we used to use for checking gowns with regular X-ray equipment. As others have suggested lead equivalent PPE is only meant to protect against scatter radiation rather than primary beam exposure. We, as a profession, should not be holding animals for radiographs. If a patient is that critical that they can't have sedation then they should in theory lie still with the aid of sandbags and other positioning aids. The only time I've ver been in the room during exposure was inflating chests for radiographs. We used to keep a tally of those who had been in during exposure to ensure not one person was doing it all the time. I believe that the law is that any clinical member of staff involved in radiography should be provided with a personal radiation Dosimeter. There should also be environmental badges. I would discuss these issues with your RPS or RPA. both of which should be listed in our local rules.

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Laura Kidd — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 16:17:39 GMT

You are correct..they should be wearing dosimeters in the controlled area UNLESS they are behind a lead screen

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

caz vn1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:32:10 GMT

OK great. didnt see any black lines on aprons so maybe ok then. some vets are still staying in room and holding so this is an ongoing discussion aka battle I am having re dosimeters!

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Ailsa Main — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 13:16:33 GMT

In the past I have only ever laid gowns flat on the plate and then examined for "cracks" but have never been sure about the settings to use. I guess even the lowest would come through as black line on a white x-ray. Is there rules about how often gowns should be x-rayed or is it another non compulsory thing?

Thinking I might x-ray our gowns now!

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Laura Kidd — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 12:18:54 GMT

Monitoring badges are not a legal requirement as long as no-one is in the controlled area, ever, during the exposure and practice has written policy to that effect ( local rules)

Lead gowns are designed to protect against scatter rather than primary beam exposure so may not be thick enough to block all X-rays passing through to then highlight your forceps on plate, depending on kV and mAs you selected.

Usually if X-raying it is to assess presence of cracks etc. Intact lead should be white and if a crack present would show as radiolucent, black line.

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

FINNIGAN — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:55:49 GMT

Thout the badges were a legal requirement? We HAVE to wear ours and I'm responsible for sending these off every 6 months!!!

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

FINNIGAN — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:55:49 GMT

Thout the badges were a legal requirement? We HAVE to wear ours and I'm responsible for sending these off every 6 months!!!

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

caz vn1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 10:00:36 GMT

dont even get we started on that one we dont have them! boss doesnt think we need them!! long standing battle!

Re: how do you check lead aprons?

Sal the 1st — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 09:28:03 GMT

are you getting readings on your badges when they are being worn?