Radiation Safety SWMS

Ionising radiation in healthcare settings creates cumulative exposure risks for workers involved in diagnostic imaging, fluoroscopy, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy. Chronic low-level exposure increases lifetime cancer risk, and acute overexposure during fluoroscopy-guided procedures can cause deterministic effects including skin erythema and lens cataracts. Workers who hold patients during imaging, theatre staff during intraoperative fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine technologists handling radiopharmaceuticals face the highest occupational doses. This template covers radiation safety procedures with controls mapped to radiation protection legislation and the binding Healthcare Code effective 1 July 2026.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025; Radiation Control Act (state); ARPANSA RPS Series

hrcw category

Work involving radiation (ionising)

code of practice

Healthcare Code of Practice 2026; ARPANSA Code of Practice for Radiation Protection (binding under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — Healthcare code binding July 2026.

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Chronic low-level ionising radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging	Increased lifetime cancer risk, lens cataracts	Possible
Acute radiation dose during fluoroscopy-guided procedures	Skin erythema, radiation dermatitis, deterministic effects	Unlikely
Internal contamination from radiopharmaceutical handling in nuclear medicine	Internal radiation dose, thyroid uptake of radioiodine	Unlikely
Fetal radiation exposure for pregnant workers	Fetal developmental harm, increased childhood cancer risk	Unlikely
Radiation exposure to non-radiation workers in adjacent areas	Unmonitored cumulative radiation dose	Possible

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Issue personal radiation dosimeters to all classified radiation workers and monitor doses monthly

Apply ALARA principle — minimise time, maximise distance, use appropriate shielding for every exposure

Provide lead aprons, thyroid shields, and lead glasses for all workers in fluoroscopy and interventional suites

Establish controlled areas with radiation warning signage and restricted access

Implement pregnancy declaration policy with dose reassessment and role modification

Conduct annual radiation safety audit including equipment survey, dosimetry review, and procedure assessment

Ensure all radiation-generating equipment undergoes scheduled quality assurance testing

Recent Prosecutions

Radiation Regulator v Private Hospital$200,000

Theatre staff sustained chronic radiation overexposure during fluoroscopy without lead protection or dosimetry. Hospital had no radiation safety officer and no dose monitoring program for non-radiology staff.

2024 — State Radiation Control Authority

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Personal dosimetry issuance and monthly monitoring program

✓Shielding requirements for each radiation-using procedure and location

✓Controlled area designation with signage and access restrictions

✓Pregnancy declaration policy and dose reassessment procedure

✓Annual radiation safety audit scope and qualified assessor requirements

Need a compliant Radiation Safety SWMS?

Our WHS consultants develop radiation safety SWMS with dosimetry programs and ALARA controls for your healthcare facility.