EU directive guidance for MR managers
 Although the implications for the European Union directive for radiographers and others working in MR units are not yet clear, the SoR has released guidance for MRI departments, based on the information currently available.
The controversial EU Directive 2004/40/EC addresses the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields. The directive defines the risks as those due to short term effects in the human body caused by induced currents, energy absorption and contact currents; it does not address possible long term effects.
The Society says that the document is very general, making it difficult to determine its effects on MRI departments in the UK because it is written from the perspective of protection of industrial workers and not specifically MRI. In addition, each member state can implement the directive in its own way, theoretically leading to considerable variation across different EU countries.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will have the responsibility for its implementation in the UK and it will take into account advice from the International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation (ICNIRP).
The PAD sets out two values in the range of 0 – 300 GHz, the exposure limit values and the action values.
Action values are not exposure limit values, and may be exceeded. However, doing so triggers a requirement to undertake one or more specified measurements set out in the directive. The ICNIRP is currently reviewing its own guidance on limiting exposure to both static and low frequency magnetic fields. This is due for completion in 2006, and will impact on the HSE interpretation of the directive, due for implementation in 2008.
Click for a pdf copy of the Society’s MRI directive guidance.
Back | Top
|
