[P073] Practical implementation of the 2013/35/EU directive on the occupational risks to electromagnetic fields exposure: Example of clinical MR sites in France

• Published in: Physica medica Vol. 52; pp. 121 - 122
• Main Authors: Sewonu, Anou, Ramiro, Moreno, Olivier, Meyrignac, Fanny, Carbillet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2018
• ISSN: 1120-1797; 1724-191X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2018.06.395

Since August 2016, France has transposed the 2013/35/EU directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding professional exposure to the risks related to electromagnetic fields (EMF).Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which uses different EMFs for image production, falls within the scope of this regulation. As MR Safety Experts (MRSE) to over 20 clinical sites, we have developed a practical scheme to implement the regulation. In this work, we wish to present the implementation scheme and practical examples of its application. The directive imposes to assess the EMF-related professional exposure risks by means of health and sensory Exposure Limit Values (ELVs) and Action Levels (ALs).Clinical MRI requires the use of a static magnetic field (0Hz), circularly polarized radiofrequency fields (42, 64, 128,300 MHz), and low-frequency switched gradient fields (0.5 kHz < f < 3 kHz). Because of this various frequency range, the occupational risks must be assessed in regard to several ELVs and ALs.Our implementation scheme is based on the use of specifications provided by the manufacturers and bibliographical data. Based on occupational health and safety requirements for healthcare professionals, the risk assessment process starts with the identification and stratification of the risks.Then, we list out all the workstations within the MR department and the different working situations in which workers can be exposed to MRI EMFs.Tremendous attention is paid to youth, pregnant, and medical-device-implanted workers. Finally, we thoroughly analyze the possibilities that ELVs and ALs are exceeded in some working situations, some of which may require extensive calculation. As a result, a detailed risk assessment report is issued to the sites with a clear exhibit of cases in which ELVs or ALs are exceeded.The report also details the prevention actions that need to be implemented and the required safety teaching program. The directors and managers of these clinical MRI sites are responsible for the implementation of the health and safety requirements in the frame of the 2013/35/EU directive.They need to rely on trained MR physicists and MRSE.Our implementation scheme is an excellent solution to numerous clinical sites where none of their staff is trained in MR physics or on safety requirements.