Health Professionals > Radiation Health

Radiation safety standards

This site provides an opportunity for clients to highlight issues or ask questions about the radiation safety standards. The questions and the response from Radiation Health will remain on the site for open viewing.

Email your question to: Radiation_Health@health.qld.gov.au

Question 1. PR004:2004

Is radiation safety standard PR004:2004 applicable to premises in which dual energy x-ray absorptiometry equipment (DEXA) is used?

Radiation Health Response
Yes.

Question 2. Digital mammography

Could you please advise the radiation safety standard relevant to digital mammography X-ray units?

Radiation Health Response
There is currently no radiation safety standard applicable for radiation apparatus used for digital mammography. However, possession licensees with digital mammography X-ray units should ensure quality assurance tests, including system resolution tests equivalent to those specified in radiation safety standard HR004:1999, are detailed in their radiation safety and protection plans.

Question 3. Radiotherapy simulators

Is there a Radiation Safety Standard applicable to radiation therapy simulators used for radiation therapy treatment planning?

Radiation Health Response
No.There is no Queensland Radiation Safety Standard applicable for radiation therapy simulators used in radiation therapy treatment planning. However, possession licensees with simulators should ensure quality assurance tests for their simulators are detailed in their radiation safety & protection plans. These tests should be based on the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine - Position Paper: "Recommendations for the Safe Use of External Beams and Sealed Brachytherapy Sources in Radiation Oncology", Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine, Vol 20 No 3, Supplement Sept 1997.

Question 4. Radioscopy (fluoroscopy) equipment

Is there a Radiation Safety Standard applicable to radioscopy equipment used in radiotherapy treatment planning?

Radiation Health Response
Yes.Radioscopy is an imaging modality which may be used during radiotherapy treatment planning. The equipment used to perform radioscopy must comply with radiation safety standard HR002:2004. In addition, possession licensees should ensure any supplementary planning-associated quality assurance tests for their X-ray equipment are detailed in their radiation safety and protection plans.

Question 5. Computed tomography equipment

Is radiation safety standard HR003:1999 applicable to computed tomography X-ray equipment which are used in radiotherapy treatment planning?

Radiation Health Response
Yes. Computed tomography is an imaging modality which may be used during radiotherapy treatment planning.The equipment used to perform computed tomography must comply with radiation safety standard HR003:1999. In addition, possession licensees should ensure any supplementary planning - associated quality assurance tests for their X-ray equipment are detailed in their radiation safety & protection plans.

Question 6. Diagnostic radiography equipment used for radiotherapy

Is radiation safety standard HR001:2004 applicable to plain film diagnostic radiography equipment used in radiotherapy treatment planning?

Radiation Health Response
Yes.Plain film diagnostic radiography is an imaging modality which may be used during radiotherapy treatment planning. The equipment used to perform plain film diagnostic radiogiaphy must comply with radiation safety standard HR001:2004. In addition, possession licensees should ensure any supplementary planning-associated quality assurance tests for their X-ray equipment are detailed in their radiation safety & protection plans.

Question 7. HDR brachytherapy premises

Is radiation safety standard PROO4:2004 applicable to premises where High Dose Rate (HDR) devices are used for brachytherapy?

Radiation Health Response
PR004:2004 excludes premises where radioactive substances are used. However, it is recommended that possession licensees with HDR devices include in their radiation safety and protection plans a requirement that premises where the devices are used comply with this Standard.

Question 8. Storage

What is storage? When does radiation safety standard PR002: 1999 apply?

Radiation Health Response
A radioactive substance is considered to be in storage when it is locked in a specifically nominated place where no use occurs. All persons who are in possession of a radioactive substance must have at least one place where a substance may be placed to ensure the safety of persons and the security of the substance. This place is the person's store for radioactive substances which must be certified against PR002: 1999.

Question 9. Sources not being used

What standards apply to premises where a radioactive substance is typically used to carry out a practice and there are periods during which the substance is not used? For example, a Mo99/Tc99m generator in a hot laboratory which is not used between periods of Tc99rn elution.

Radiation Health Response
A licensee may place a radioactive substance to one side during its use. A radioactive substance in this condition is not in storage; it is merely not being used. Providing the period of non-use is reasonable and in accordance with expected normal use patterns as stated in the possession licensee's radiation safety and protection plan, the premises only need to be certified as meeting the requirements of radiation safety standard PR001:1999. It is good radiation practice to ensure that radioactive substances are placed in the possession licensee's certified store if the period of non-use extends beyond this reasonable period.

Last Updated: 02 January 2007
Last Reviewed: 08 May 2006