Possession and use of x-ray equipment for plain film veterinary radiography by veterinary surgeons

The Radiation Safety Act 1999 commenced on 1 January 2000. The intent of this Act is to protect persons from health risks associated with exposure to radiation. In order to achieve this, the Act has established several requirements. This information outlines the legislated requirements for veterinary surgeons who possess/use or intend to possess/use X-ray equipment for plain film veterinary radiography.

Use licence

If you use or intend to use X-ray equipment you must hold a use licence. Possession licensees must ensure that users of their X-ray equipment are appropriately licensed.

An application form for a use licence is available from Radiation Health (Ph 3406 8018). An application for a licence to use X-ray equipment for plain film veterinary radiography must be accompanied with:

a certified copy of the applicant’s registration under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936; and (not required, if the registration is published in the Gazetted Roll of Veterinary Surgeons of Queensland)
a certified copy of the applicant’s academic qualification.

If the applicant is applying more than two years after his or her graduation, he or she may be asked for further information in relation to his or her ability to use X-ray equipment, before a licence is granted.

Use licensees must comply with the approved radiation safety and protection plan provided by the possession licensee.

Possession licence

If you own or intend to own X-ray equipment (including units no longer used) you must hold a possession licence. A possession licence can be granted to an individual or a company.

An application form for a possession licence is available from Radiation Health (Ph 3406 8018). An application must be accompanied by your proposed radiation safety and protection plan.

Radiation safety and protection plan

Applicants for a possession licence must develop a radiation safety and protection plan approved by the Chief Executive of Queensland Health. This document outlines the legislated requirements and specifies the operational procedures required to enhance radiation protection at a particular practice.

Applicants may develop their own plans. Alternatively, they may choose to modify a template plan (available from Radiation Health - Ph 3406 8000 or www.health.qld.au select ‘public health’, then ‘Radiation Health’) to suit their own practices. Once completed, each plan must be signed and dated by the prospective possession licensee and submitted to Radiation Health for assessment.

Radiation safety officer

A possession licensee must appoint a radiation safety officer for the licensee’s practice.

If the possession licensee is an individual and a registered veterinary surgeon who holds a use licence, the possession licensee may appoint him or herself as the radiation safety officer for his or her own practice, without obtaining a Radiation Safety Officer Certificate.

If the possession licensee is not an individual (e.g. a corporation), a person who holds a Radiation Safety Officer Certificate issued under the Radiation Safety Act 1999 must be appointed.

An application form for a Radiation Safety Officer Certificate is available from Radiation Health (Ph 3406 8018). Registered veterinary surgeons are considered to have adequate radiation protection knowledge if they hold an appropriate use licence issued under the Radiation Safety Act 1999.

Compliance certifications

The possession licensee must obtain a certificate of compliance for the following items to demonstrate that they meet the relevant radiation safety standards made under the Radiation Safety Act 1999:

Premises where X-ray equipment is used (also applies to premises approved prior to 1999 by Queensland Health); and
X-ray equipment.

Certificates of compliance must be obtained from a person who has been accredited to assess premises and X-ray equipment. The accredited person will submit a copy of his/her assessment report to Radiation Health. A list of accredited persons is available from Radiation Health (Ph 3406 8018).

Approval to acquire x-ray equipment

A person must obtain an approval from the Chief Executive of Queensland Health before acquiring X-ray equipment. An approval will not be granted if the person does not hold a current possession licence with an authority to possess the type of X-ray equipment the person wishes to acquire.

An application for an approval to acquire a radiation apparatus is available from Radiation Health (Ph 3406 8018).

Further information

For further information on the possession and use of X-ray equipment, or for any other inquires, please contact:

Radiation Health
450 Gregory Terrace
Fortitude Valley Q 4006
Ph: 07 3406 8000 during business hours
Fax: 07 3406 8030
E-mail: radiation_health@health.qld.gov.au

Website: www.health.qld.gov.au/radiationhealth/healthrelated/veterinary.asp