Radiation Management Plan
Example Veterinary Radiography
Radiation Protection Unit
GPO Box 125
Hobart TAS 7001
03 6166 7256

The following Radiation Management Plan (RMP) is an example of the type of information
expected in your plan for a veterinary radiography practice.
You should use the red italic text on the front/cover page and in the right hand column as a
guide when writing your own plan and replace the red text with your own words.

A plan is required under the Radiation Protection Act 2005 and must be approved by the
Director of Public Health. The purpose of a plan is to ensure that the practice of
veterinary radiography is conducted safely and in accordance with legislative
requirements.

Practices are expected to provide general details when describing such items as the practice
type and radiation apparatus dealt with, for example:
o ‘persons authorised under Schedule 3 Part A of the licence’ under point (a)
o ‘radiation apparatus listed in Schedule 1 Part A of the licence’ under point (b)
This will avoid the need for you to submit an amended Radiation Management Plan each time
you add or remove people or radiation apparatus from your licence.

Practices are expected to provide specific details when describing such items as courses of
study being undertaken, for example:
o ‘Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing’ or ‘No students/trainees at present’
under point (h).

A plan may be supported by practice protocols and procedures, which can be referenced in
the plan but do not need to be submitted with the plan.

A plan should be reviewed by the practice either annually or biannually, and the date for the
next review should be recorded on the front/cover page.
___________________________________________________
Sample RMP Veterinary Practice
First Issued: 30 June 2006
Last Reviewed: 21 October 2015
Radiation Management Plan
For:
Dr Penny Roust
(applicant for licence to possess/licence holder)
holder of licence L000125
to possess radiation apparatus
of:
Roust Veterinary Services
(organisation/company/trading name – as applicable)
for the practice of:
Veterinary Radiography
to be carried out at:
2 Mineral Street, Burnie and at field locations
Plan prepared by:
Dr Daniel Roust (RSO)
Date:
30 April 2015
Contact details:
Telephone:
03 6432 1000
Facsimile:
03 6432 1111
Email:
roust.vet@burnie.com.au
Plan accepted by
Dr Penny Roust (applicant/licence holder)
who hereby agrees to adhere to all requirements in the plan.
Signature:
PRoust
Date:
30 April 2015
Date for review:
30 April 2017
(date when it is intended that the plan will be reviewed eg in one or two years’ time)
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Introduction
This plan has been prepared in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Radiation Protection Regulations
2006. This plan will ensure the practice of veterinary radiography is conducted as safely as
possible and in compliance with the Radiation Protection Act 2005 and the Radiation Protection
Regulations 2006.
Compliance with this radiation management plan will help ensure the radiation doses to users,
other persons involved in the practice, members of the public and the environment are below the
prescribed limits and are as low as reasonably achievable. It will also help ensure that the number
of people exposed to radiation and the likelihood of unexpected exposure to radiation are
minimised.
The plan is to be read by everyone in Roust Veterinary Services.
Information required by
Regulation 8,
Radiation Protection Regulations
2006
Details of plan
(a) a brief description of the type and scope
of the radiation practice
Radiography in vet practice – mainly small animals
radiographed in designated area of surgery (Certificate
of Registration for Place AP/nnn) but occasionally x-ray
horses at field locations. Vet surgeons (as per Schedule
3 Part A of the licence) use the x-ray units.
(b) a list of the radiation apparatus dealt with As per Schedule 1 Part A of the licence.
in the radiation practice
(c) an assessment of the potential hazards
from the radiation apparatus dealt with in
the radiation practice
Exposure to radiation from primary x-ray beam;
scattered radiation; tube head leakage.
(d) details of the environment likely to be
exposed to radiation during the radiation
practice
Vet surgery and adjacent rooms.
For field radiography - area within primary beam out
to about 10 metres plus area within about two to
three metres around x-ray tube.
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(e) the radiation principles, work practices
(including quality-assurance procedures) and
equipment (including personal radiation
monitors) used to ensure that radiation
exposure of persons or the environment is
as low as is reasonably achievable during
typical types of work carried out within the
radiation practice
Practice applies the principles for radiation protection
outlined in the “Fundamentals for Protection Against
Ionizing Radiation” 1
Radiograph taken only if clinically justified; ensure
workload specified in the Certificate for Registration
for the surgery is not exceeded; collimate beam;
Adhere to vet CoP2;work practices that utilize
guidance in the Safety Guide for Radiation Protection
in Veterinary Medicine (2009) have been developed
and are documented, both for radiography in the Xray room and for field radiography. These include
restraints used as per the Safety Guide; provision of
protective clothing for operators and assistants; use of
distance/shielding to minimize the dose to operators.
Operators are trained and are authorised on licence;
Personal monitor used as area monitor for surgery;
another monitor worn by vet for field radiography;
QA protocol, based on Annex G of the Safety Guide,
has been developed and is available for x-ray imaging
systems, including recording and investigating repeat
radiographs and any radiograph not in accordance
with the imaging request.
1
2
ARPANSA Fundamentals for Protection Against Ionizing Radiation (2014)
ARPANSA Code of practice for Radiation Protection in Veterinary Medicine (2009)
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(f) details of the classes of persons likely to
be exposed to radiation during the radiation
practice, including
(i) children
(ii) pregnant women
No person under 16 allowed to be in vicinity of x-ray
unit while radiography in progress.
May assist with radiography but only if wearing
protective clothing, standing at least 2 metres from xray tube and if exposure to foetus will not exceed
public dose limit. Practice takes fewer than 5
radiographs per week and so this limit will not be
exceeded with above protective measures in place.
(iii) volunteers in biomedical research Not relevant for this vet practice.
(iv) persons exempt from section
13(1) of the Act under Part 10
Students/trainees undertaking the course specified in
(h). OR
No students/trainees at present.
Other persons:
Assistants and persons authorised on the licence to
‘use’ the x-ray units.
(g) the maximum dose of radiation it is
anticipated a person of a class of persons
specified in paragraph (f) will receive while
the radiation principles, work practices and
equipment referred to in paragraph (e) are
being used, and the action to be taken if
those doses are exceeded
Personal monitors should indicate less than 50 µSv
per three-month period for a well-run veterinary
practice.
(h) details of a course of study or training
that
(i) is being or will be undertaken by a
person who is expected to be dealing
with a radiation source in the
radiation practice
(ii) requires, as part of that course of
study or training, the person to deal
with the radiation source in the
radiation practice
Veterinary Nurses may undertake Certificate IV
Veterinary Nursing (includes radiography) through an
approved institution. The practical component of the
course is conducted in this practice.
OR
No students/trainees at present.
(i) the name, qualifications and experience of
the supervisor of a person referred to in
paragraph (h)(i) while undertaking that part
Dr Penny Roust, BVSc, registered Veterinarian, 10
years’ experience.
OR
Will immediately review practices and notify Director
of Public Health (DPH) if doses above this level are
recorded.
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of a course of study or training referred to
in paragraph (h)(ii)
Not applicable at present.
(j) the training and information to be
provided to persons involved in carrying out
the radiation practice
In-house radiation safety awareness training for ALL
staff; staff assisting with radiography to read CoP, the
‘Fundamentals’ and the National Standard3 and
licence conditions and demonstrate an understanding
of the requirements in these.
(k) the name and contact details of the
radiation safety officer (RSO) for the
radiation practice
Dr Daniel Roust, BVSc
Phone: 03 6432 1000
Fax: 03 6432 1111
Email: roust.vet@burnie.com.au
3
National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation [NOHSC:1013(1995)] republished in 2002 by the Chief Executive Officer of
ARPANSA
5
(l) a brief description of the role of the
radiation safety officer (RSO)
Annex A of the Safety Guide RPS17; Section 5 of
RPS1; attached ‘Duties of the RSO’.
Ensure personal monitoring conducted appropriately
and that monitors are stored with the control when
not in use.
(m) a brief description of the resources
available to the radiation safety officer to
enable him or her to perform his or her role
under the radiation management plan
Budget includes funding for personal radiation
monitoring, QA program, replacement of protective
clothing, compliance testing, and radiation protection
training for staff.
RSO has ready access to this plan, the licence
document, the Certificate of Registration for the place,
and all referenced documents.
(n) a description of the roles and
responsibilities, that are relevant to a
dealing with the radiation source in the
radiation practice, of all persons
authorised by the licence to deal with the
radiation apparatus in the radiation practice
Licence holder: ensure this plan is implemented.
All staff: responsible for following the radiation
practices specified in this plan.
RSO: see above.
Operators named on licence: as per licence conditions.
All staff – obey warning signs and written instructions
(developed and placed in prominent location in
surgery) aimed at minimising their exposure to
radiation.
All staff - to report to RSO any matter that may
compromise radiation safety.
(o) the methods used to ensure that the
persons referred to in paragraph (n) are
aware of their obligations under the Act and
the licence
Radiation safety awareness training includes provision
of information about the licence and its conditions.
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(p) details of how the radiation apparatus in
the radiation practice will be prepared for
use, repaired, maintained, transported,
stored and disposed of
X-ray units to be checked by service engineer for
mechanical and electrical safety on an annual basis;
compliance checks every four years.
Field unit to be packed carefully in transport box to
avoid damage during transport and to be set up as
per manufacturer’s instructions, on stand, for field use.
When no longer required, will seek an amendment to
the licence to dispose of an x-ray unit such that it
a) is sold, or
b) cannot be reassembled for use
in accordance with Regulation 19.
(q) details of any emergency response plans
for the radiation practice including reporting
to the Director of Public Health
X-ray unit will be switched off/unplugged immediately
if aberrant radiation output suspected. DPH will be
informed of any malfunction of the x-ray unit that
could have resulted in unexpected irradiation of any
person or of any situation where person could have
been exposed inadvertently.
(r) details of procedures that are designed to X-ray unit will be switched off/unplugged immediately
minimise the radiation hazard arising from a if aberrant radiation output suspected.
radiation incident
(s) details of reporting procedures for
incidents adversely affecting, or likely to
adversely affect
(i) equipment used in the radiation
practice
(ii) the environment
(iii) the health or safety of any person
Staff are required to report any malfunction of the xray unit/observed damage to unit (e.g. frayed cords,
dents in tube casing) to RSO immediately. Any other
incident also to be reported to RSO who will take
immediate action and pass on information to Dr
Penny Roust (licence holder) for any further
investigation and action, including reporting to the
DPH.
(t) details of record-keeping requirements
including details of the records that will be
kept of movement of any mobile radiation
source in the radiation practice
Records of all radiographs will be maintained for at
least seven years and will indicate the operator,
exposure factors, patient and view. Record of disposal
of unit will be maintained as per Regulation 26,
Radiation Protection Regulations 2006.
(u) details of the use of radiation warning
signs and labels in the radiation practice.
Warning labels on the x-ray units and on surgery
entrances, as per CoP and Certificate of Registration
for the place.
Referenced documents:
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
CoP: ARPANSA Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Veterinary Medicine
RPS 17 July 2009

RPS1: National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation
[NOHSC:1013(1995)] republished in 2002 by the Chief Executive Officer of ARPANSA

Fundamentals: ARPANSA Fundamentals for Protection Against Ionising Radiation (2014)

Radiation Protection Regulations 2006

Radiation Protection Act 2005
Attached details:

Duties of the RSO
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Duties of the RSO:
The RSO will:
a)
supervise the radiation protection aspects of the radiation practice that are specified in the
radiation management plan
b)
operate and interpret the readings from radiation monitoring equipment that is required for
the radiation practice
c)
understand the precautions (including the use of protective clothing and equipment) to be
taken in carrying out the radiation practice
d)
understand the extent to which the precautions referred to in paragraph (c) will restrict
exposure to radiation
e)
know the actions required to carry out the emergency procedures specified in the radiation
management plan
f)
help the holder of the licence implement the employer’s duties specified in Chapter 5 of the
National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation [NOHSC:1013(1995)]
republished in 2002 by the chief executive officer of ARPANSA
g)
carry out the duties recommended for a radiation safety officer in Safety Guide for Radiation
Protection in Veterinary Medicine RPS 17 July 2009.
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