Welcome 2022
Greetings to Sieverts’ ongoing and new clients in QLD.
The Sieverts team would like to wish our clients a Happy 2022. We look forward to working alongside you and your radiation practice.
Sieverts takes this opportunity to provide updates regarding some changes to the radiation standards and practices that have occurred for Qld radiation compliance requirements.
As you might already know, the QLD Radiation Safety Standards have been updated and came into effect on 1st September 2021.
1. New compliance testing standards
There are new compliance testing standards for both ionising and non-ionising radiation and premises. In these new standards, the compliance testings criteria are predominantly the same but with additions and variations to the protocols and actions required by radiation practices to pass compliance requirements. All compliance testing reports and compliance certificates must be issued by an Accredited Person.
2. Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) – display of name and contact information
Under the updated standard for premises, the name and contact information of the RSO must be displayed:
(a) at each entrance to the radiation source room; or
(b) in the radiation source room.
Without the display of RSO contact information, the accredited person cannot pass the compliance requirement and therefore unable to issue the certificate of compliance.
Please note that under the Radiation Safety Act 1999 (Qld), a radiation practice can only be carried out if a RSO has been appointed for the radiation practice.
A RSO has specific skills set which include:
- aware of legislative responsibilities
- radiation knowledge and skills relevant to the radiation practice
- radiation knowledge and its biological effects
- applying radiation safety and protection principles
- measuring, monitoring and interpreting radiation measurements
- interpreting legislation, guidelines, codes of practice and standards.
The RSO must have a current QLD RSO certificate that stipulates the exact type of radiation practice and apparatus. Under the legislation, there may be an exemption to an RSO certificate in certain circumstances.
Please contact us to discuss if the exemption is applicable to you and/or to the radiation practice.
3. Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) compliance requirement
Previously, for CBCT apparatus, there was no compliance requirement or certificate of compliance issued other than a yearly quality assurance testing.
From 1st September 2021, all CBCT apparatus must now be compliance tested annually and issued with a current Qld Certificate of Compliance.
4. Green sticker (premises) and Yellow Sticker (apparatus) are no longer in use
These stickers have been made obsolete with the new compliance standards regime from 1st September 2021.
Current stickers remain compliant until the next cycle of compliance testings.
For best practice, all subsequent compliance certificates issued, Sieverts recommends radiation practices to display their current compliance certificates.
Moving forward
Please be mindful of the above changes to ensure continual radiation compliance to minimise any interruptions to your radiation practice.
Feel free to contact Sieverts if you need assistance with any of the above to ensure that your radiation practice/s comply with the requirements implemented by the Qld Radiation Health Authority.
Sieverts looks forward to our continued partnership.
