Radiation Protection in Mammography: Recommended Safety Procedures for the Use of Mammographic X-Ray Equipment - Safety Code 33

Explanatory notes

This document is one of a series of safety codes prepared by the Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada to set out requirements for the safe use of radiation-emitting equipment.

This Safety Code has been prepared to provide specific guidance to the radiologist, radiology technologist, medical physicist, radiation safety officer, and other personnel concerned with safety procedures and equipment performance in mammography.

For mammographic X-ray facilities, this code supersedes parts of Safety Code 20A, entitled "X-ray Equipment in Medical Diagnosis Part a: Recommended Safety Procedures for installation and use". This Safety Code is intended to complement X-ray equipment design, construction and performance standards promulgated under the Radiation Emitting Devices Act.

The safety procedures, equipment and installation guidelines detailed in this Safety Code are primarily for the instruction and guidance of persons employed in Federal Public Service departments and agencies, as well as those under the jurisdiction of the Canada Labour Code. Facilities under provincial jurisdiction may be subject to requirements specified under provincial statutes. The authorities listed in Appendix IV should be contacted for details of the regulatory requirements of individual provinces.

Certain words in this code have been chosen with purpose. The words must and shall indicate a recommendation that is essential to meet the currently accepted standards of protection. The word should indicates an advisory recommendation that is highly desirable and is to be implemented where possible. The word patient in this code describes a person being prescribed mammographic X-ray examinations for diagnostic purposes and includes a woman as a participant to a breast screening program. The term medical physicist in this code describes an individual who has received adequate training and is sufficiently experienced in radiation protection and the operation and testing of mammography X-ray equipment. In some jurisdictions, certifications or licensing may be required of the medical physicist.

In a field in which technology is advancing rapidly and where unexpected and unique problems continually develop, this Code cannot cover all possible situations. Blind adherence to rules cannot substitute for the exercise of sound judgement. Recommendations may be modified in unusual circumstances, but only upon the advice of experts with recognized competence in radiation protection and in 4 5 the operation of mammographic X-ray equipment. This Code will be reviewed and revised periodically, and a particular requirement may be reconsidered at any time if it becomes necessary to cover an unforeseen situation. Interpretation or elaboration on any point can be obtained by contacting the of Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 1C1.

Acknowledgements

This document reflects the work of many individuals. It was written by Mr. C. Lavoie of the X-ray Section, Radiation Protection Bureau. Appreciation is given toMr. P. Chaloner and other members of the X-ray Section for their advice during the preparation of this code.

The contributions of the following organizations and associations are also gratefully acknowledged:

Association des physiciens et ingénieurs biomédicaux du Québec
British Columbia Association of Medical Radiation Technologists
Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists
Canadian Association of Radiologists
Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists
General Electric Medical Systems
Governments of Alberta, British Colombia,
NewBrunswick, Nova Scotia, Québec, Manitoba, and Ontario
Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Technologists
Ordre des techniciens en radiologie du Québec
Saskatchewan Association of Medical Radiation Technologists
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, North York, Ontario
Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, N.S.