The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018

Expert advice

14.—(1) The employer must ensure that a suitable medical physics expert is appointed and involved, in accordance with paragraph (2), in relation to every type of exposure to which these Regulations apply.

(2) A medical physics expert must—

(a) be closely involved in every radiotherapeutic practice other than standardised therapeutic nuclear medicine practices;

(b) be involved in practices including standardised therapeutic nuclear medicine practices, diagnostic nuclear medicine practices and high dose interventional radiology and high dose computed tomography;

(c) be involved as appropriate for consultation on optimisation, in all other radiological practices not mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b); and

(d) give advice on—

(i) dosimetry and quality assurance matters relating to radiation protection concerning exposures;

(ii) physical measurements for the evaluation of the dose delivered;

(iii) medical radiological equipment.

(3) A medical physics expert must also contribute to the following matters—

(a) optimisation of the radiation protection of patients and other individuals subject to exposures, including the application and use of diagnostic reference levels;

(b) the definition and performance of quality assurance of the equipment;

(c) acceptance testing of equipment;

(d) the preparation of technical specifications for equipment and installation design;

(e) the surveillance of the medical radiological installations;

(f) the analysis of events involving, or potentially involving, accidental or unintended exposures;

(g) the selection of equipment required to perform radiation protection measurements;

(h) the training of practitioners and other staff in relevant aspects of radiation protection;

(i) the provision of advice to an employer relating to compliance with these Regulations.

(4) The medical physics expert must, where appropriate, liaise with a radiation protection adviser and a radioactive waste adviser.

(5) In this regulation—

(a) “radiation protection adviser” means an individual who, or a body which is competent to advise on radiation protection in relation to occupational and public exposures;

(b) “radioactive waste adviser” means an individual who, or a body which is competent to provide expert advice on radioactive waste management and environmental radiation protection.