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Radiologic Sciences Student Handbook

Safety Policies

Emergency Plan

The University building is a designated Civil Defense Shelter. The siren will be sounded in case of an emergency. All persons in the building are required to go to the Designated Shelter Area marked by Civil Defense signs. The Designated Sheltered Areas are the east/west hallways on the lower level.

All University activities will cease until the emergency has ended. Student Records and Financial Services will keep in contact by use of a radio scanner.

Campus safety and security responsibilities are administered by Facilities Management.

Facilities Management is responsible for maintaining university buildings and grounds with a concern for safety and security. Primary safety and security functions of the department include:

  • routine security surveillance and safety inspections;
  • investigation of reported incidents and suspicious activities;
  • escort services
  • monitoring building access; secure and unlock buildings according to schedule;
  • monitoring the closed circuit television system;
  • enforcement of campus parking regulations;
  • maintaining the campus card access system;
  • monitoring security, fire and building-mechanical alarm systems;
  • removal of unauthorized persons from buildings and grounds of campus;
  • contacting law enforcement agencies when required.

 

Employees of Facilities Management perform routine security functions Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and emergency assistance is available through local police, fire or medical agencies. The university provides contract security personnel Monday through Friday from 4:00

p.m. to 12:00 midnight and weekends from 7 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Contract services for special events are made with off-duty police officers. Facilities Management and security personnel do not have police powers of arrest, but have the ability to detain individuals and make a citizen’s arrest. All applicants for security or Facilities Management positions undergo a background check in compliance with Minnesota regulations.

 

Escort service is available by calling extension 232.

 

Facilities Management or security personnel are responsible for first response to all emergency situations until assistance is available by local police, fire or medical agencies.

 

Campus Access

All areas of the main university campus are accessible during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Some areas of the campus such as the library, student lounge, and cafeteria are also accessible evenings and weekends. Outside doors to the campus are equipped with electronic card access control systems that keep a record of entrances and exits from the building. The campus building is accessible by card access only from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Surveillance camera systems operate 24 hours a day at key interior locations.

Off-site clinics operated by the university are accessible during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Some of the clinics are on electronic alarm systems while closed.

 

RADIATION SAFETY AND PROTECTION

 

RADIATION PROTECTION

All students will practice appropriate radiation safety procedures in protecting themselves, their patients and other personnel from unnecessary exposure.

  1. Radiation protection practices are reviewed at the beginning of the students’ training and in multiple classes throughout the Radiologic Science programs. All students receive a copy of Basic Radiation Safety Principles at orientation. These Principles are also posted in each classroom and the energized laboratory. Students may not expose any person to radiation without direct supervision in the clinical setting.
  2. A monitoring device (film badge) may be worn by each student. A record of the results can be accessed by the Radiation Safety Officer and/or Program Director at any time and students can request the readings.
  3. Radiation protection and safety measures must be strictly adhered to.
  4. Because of the limitations placed on pregnant radiation workers, full participation in the clinical training program may be achieved; therefore pregnancy during this time is ill-advised. The program’s Pregnancy Policy (in accordance with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) can be located on in the Clinical Training Handbook. If the student chooses to disclose her pregnancy to program officials, NWHSU and all the affiliate hospitals/clinics will protect, as much as possible, the fetus of any student.

 

RADIATION SAFETY RULES (NRC)

Radiation safety is an integral part of the radiography and radiation therapy professions. Therefore, it is imperative that students be aware of radiation protection rules that must be followed by personnel.

 

The ALARA (As Low AS Reasonably Achievable) concept was developed by the National Council on Radiation Protection and is accepted by all regulatory agencies. This concept is for radiation therapists, radiographers, students in the radiography professions and radiologists to share the responsibility to keep occupational and non-occupational absorbed doses below their allowable maximum levels, which can be achieved through the employment of proper radiation control procedures.

 

Radiation Protection and Monitoring

The ALARA concept will be adhered to. A student is expected to exercise sound radiation protection practices at all times. At no time should a student participate in a procedure that exhibits unsafe protection practices.

 

According to ALARA all occupational workers following safe radiation practices should not receive more than one-tenth of the maximum permissible dose in an exposure period (40 mrem in a one-month period).

 

If a students’ monthly film badge reading exceeds 40 mrem the student will be required to complete a Notification Report - Personnel Dosimetry Form (located in the CT Handbook) and will receive instruction and counseling on radiation protection/safety to reduce their monthly radiation dose totals in keeping with the ALARA concept.

 

Radiation Monitoring Device

  1. Film badges will be provided by NWHSU to all students for their clinical experience.
  2. Students are required to wear their film badge at the clinical affiliate hospital/clinic and during all labs on campus. No student will be allowed to participate in activities at the clinical affiliate hospital if he or she is not wearing a current film badge.
  3. The student is responsible for controlled storage of their film badge.
  4. The Radiation Safety Officer or the program chair will review the Radiation Dosimetry Report on a monthly basis. If the report indicates exposure, the student will be notified, interviewed and counseled.
  5. The film badge/dosimetry report is available to all students. The student may contact the Radiation Safety Officer or the Program Chair for any and all reports.
  6. If the film badge is lost or damaged, report this immediately to the clinical coordinator or program chair.
  7. Should a student’s badge be exposed or a radiation monitoring incident occurs, the student must report the incident immediately to the clinical coordinator or program director. A detailed report must be completed using the Personnel Dosimetry Form located in the CT Handbook. This report will be filed in the student’s folder.

RADIATION PROTECTION RULES GOVERNED BY ALARA

  1. Understand and apply the Cardinal Principles of Radiation Control – Time, Distance and Shielding.
  2. Do not allow familiarity to result in poor radiation protection procedures.
  3. Should not routinely hold a patient while making an exposure
  4. Always wear your film badge.
  5. Wear film badge at the neck
  6. Wear film badge outside lead apron if working in simulation/energized lab and requested to stay in room to attend to a patient while exposure is being made.
  7. Never leave your film badge in exposure room or simulation room.
  8. Never wear your film badge if you are having medical or dental radiographs taken of yourself.
  9. Wear lead apron when appropriate.
  10. Always use collimation.
  11. Never make an exposure while the door to the simulation room is open.
  12. Follow the appropriate rules for radiation safety set by each clinical affiliate.

 

ACCIDENTS and/or INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE STUDENT

  1. Immediately report all incidents and/or injuries and accidents to the clinical supervisor, so that proper care can be given.
  2. The college program director must be informed of any such accidents by the beginning of the next work day.

 

ACCIDENTS or INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE PATIENTS

  1. The hospital policy for accidents and incidents must be followed.
  2. The program chair and clinical instructor must be notified of any such accidents or incidents.