Safety, Health and Injury Management and Wellbeing

X-ray equipment

Our role is to develop and assist in the implementation of the UWA safety, health and wellbeing programs in order to minimise the risk of injury, illness and property damage.

We provide consultancy and other services to promote best practice and legislative compliance in all University and related activities.

Further information

Safety and Health has a checklist for XRA machines:

X-ray producing equipment and its location must be registered with Safety and Health and the Radiological Council, and x-ray machines may only be used by, or under the supervision of, a person with an appropriate licence.

Separate licences to use analytical and diagnostic x-ray machines are required, as the training and operation of these machines are quite different.

In the case of analytical x-ray devices, legislation requires compliance with the NHMRC Code of Practice for the Safe Use of X-ray Analysis Equipment (1984).

The Code provides the major guidelines for the use of x-ray analysis (XRA) equipment and sets out in detail the responsibilities of the user (licence holder) and operator, and describes minimum requirements for XRA equipment design, working rules and radiation monitoring.

  1. Protocols
  2. Working rules
  3. Training
  4. Servicing

Protocols

All new procedures involving X-Ray equipment at UWA require the user to have completed a protocol application before starting work. Protocol forms are available from UWA Safety and Health or from the school radiation safety officer (SRSO).

The forms must be completed, signed by the applicant and signed by their supervisor before being sent to UWA Safety and Health for a final assessment. The application will be reviewed and if approved it is signed and issued with a protocol number. Copies of the approved protocol are sent to the applicant and the SRSO.

Any changes to an agreed protocol must be approved by UWA Safety and Health. Such changes may include the use of new equipment.

For X-Ray analysis work, use the form below:

For X-Ray diagnostic work, use the form below:

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Working rules

X-ray working rules are required to be posted in a prominent position in the X-ray area. Safety and Health also provides:

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Training

All XRA users at the University are encouraged to attend the X-ray Analysis Safety Course. It is expected that licensed users of partially enclosed XRA equipment (usually research group leaders) have adequate training and experience in XRA safety and that their supervised users are suitably instructed, trained and supervised.

The half-day X-ray Analysis Safety Course consists of lectures on:

  • basic physics of X-rays (production, interactions with matter, measurement, units)
  • hazards from X-ray equipment (acute, chronic, non-radiation)
  • safety procedures (interlocks, warning lights, shielding, enclosures, maintenance)
  • regulations (registration of equipment, licences of individuals, SRSOs' working rules)
  • an XRA safety video.

Assessment will take the form of an in-class, open-book test.

All users of fluoroscopic x-ray machines must have completed an approved non-radiologist fluoroscopy x-ray safety course. This course runs over half a day.

Only qualified imaging technologists or a technicians who are approved by the UWA Safety and Health Office are allowed to operate fluoroscopic X-ray equipment.

For further information contact Safety and Health on (+61 8) 6488 3938 or email.

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Servicing

There are different training and licensing requirements for those who service or make significant changes to x-ray equipment, as opposed to those who simply use x-ray equipment. For details about how to get the correct level of training contact Safety and Health on (+61 8) 6488 3938 or email.

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