Control measure

Safe system of work: MRI scanner

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Control measure knowledge

If the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner is still emitting a strong magnetic field, personnel should not enter the scanner room (beyond the demarcation line) with any metal or battery operated objects.

As the Faraday cage around an MRI scanner blocks normal communication equipment, it may be necessary to implement line of sight communications or to physically relay messages.

It may be necessary to use atmospheric monitoring to identify if cryogenic gases have leaked from the scanner into surrounding rooms. If gases are identified, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should be worn and the safety of deploying personnel into a room containing cryogenic gases should be considered. For more information see Personal protective equipment (PPE): Cryogenic materials.

Isolating an MRI scanner

Isolating the power supply to an MRI scanner will not stop the strong magnetic field being generated. However, there may be some incidents, for example if the scanner is involved in fire, where isolating the power supply would be necessary.

Wherever possible this should be done by the scanner operator, but electricity can be isolated by fire and rescue service personnel if it is not safe for the operator.

Refer to the hazard of On-site machinery and the control measure Isolate power supplies for on-site machinery.

MRI scanner emergency shutdown procedure

In the event of fire or entrapment, for example if somebody becomes trapped in the magnetic field because they are holding or wearing a metallic item, the operators of the MRI scanner are trained to perform an emergency shutdown (quench) of the scanner.

To shut down the magnetic field, the scanner is quenched of cryogenic liquids. This task will take several minutes, during which time a high strong magnetic field will still exist.

Taking this course of action should only be done when there is a threat to life risk due to the high financial cost. Quenching has the potential to damage the scanner. Once quenched, the scanner cannot be restarted without specialist engineers replenishing the cryogenic liquids and resetting the equipment.

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Ensure information about MRI scanners, their location and their emergency shutdown procedures is recorded in Site-Specific Risk Information (SSRI)
Maintain contact details for specialist advice for MRI scanners
Inform their personnel about the hazard of exposure to strong magnetic fields if they have any metal implants or fragments

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Ensure fire and rescue service personnel are made aware of the strong magnetic field
Not deploy any metallic equipment into the scanner room (beyond the demarcation line) unless the magnetic field has been shut down
Liaise with the MRI operator to identify appropriate actions
Consider requesting an emergency shutdown of the MRI scanner, if there is a threat to life, taking into account the consequences of this action
Ensure personnel entering the hazard area do not have any metal implants or fragments that may be affected by the strong magnetic field
Be aware of the impact of MRI scanners on communication equipment
Implement alternative communication methods when MRI scanners affect radio transmission
Ensure cryogenic gases have not leaked into the scanner room prior to committing fire and rescue service personnel
Ensure any fire and rescue service personnel committed into the scanner room where there may be a hazard of asphyxiation wear appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
Consider requesting the MRI operator to isolate the scanner

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Safe system of work: MRI scanner	Understand: The safe systems of work for incidents involving MRI scanners How to obtain advice about MRI scanners The considerations prior to isolating MRI scanners Who to contact to request MRI scanning equipment is isolated When it may be necessary to shut down an MRI scanner How MRI scanners are shut down That MRI scanners require ‘quenching’ for full emergency shut down and who may carry out that process The impact of shutting down a MRI scanner What to consider before entering a MRI scanner room Use of the demarcation line as a boundary for metal objects to be kept out of the hazard area The effect of the ‘faraday cage’ on communications Alternative methods of communication where electronic equipment cannot be used

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Safe system of work: MRI scanner

Understand:

The safe systems of work for incidents involving MRI scanners
How to obtain advice about MRI scanners
The considerations prior to isolating MRI scanners
Who to contact to request MRI scanning equipment is isolated
When it may be necessary to shut down an MRI scanner
How MRI scanners are shut down
That MRI scanners require ‘quenching’ for full emergency shut down and who may carry out that process
The impact of shutting down a MRI scanner
What to consider before entering a MRI scanner room
Use of the demarcation line as a boundary for metal objects to be kept out of the hazard area
The effect of the ‘faraday cage’ on communications
Alternative methods of communication where electronic equipment cannot be used

NOS knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:
You need to know and understand: 2920
K Hazards and risks of the workplace affecting people and the environment in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K How to make and apply decisions based on the assessment of risk in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K How to apply practices that maximise the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others during fire and rescue operational incidents K Sources and availability of information K Methods and techniques for communicating with others K Roles, responsibilities and limits of authority of self, others and other agencies in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents
Health & Safety
K 1 Hazards and risks of the workplace affecting people and the environment in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K 2 How to make and apply decisions based on the assessment of risk in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K 3 How to apply practices that maximise the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others during fire and rescue operational incidents
Organisational
K 6 Sources and availability of information
Personal and Interpersonal
K 7 Methods and techniques for communicating with others K 11 Roles, responsibilities and limits of authority of self, others and other agencies in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents

Practical application

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Safe system of work: MRI scanner	Demonstrate the ability to: Request emergency shutdown of the MRI, giving consideration to the consequences of those actions Apply atmospheric monitoring to detect leaked cryogenic gases when a shutdown has been performed Use appropriate respiratory protective equipment when entering MRI scanner room after shutdown Prevent deployment of metallic objects and equipment beyond the demarcation line when MRI scanner is not shut down Communicate magnetic resonance imaging scanner status and information to relevant personnel

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Safe system of work: MRI scanner

Demonstrate the ability to:

Request emergency shutdown of the MRI, giving consideration to the consequences of those actions
Apply atmospheric monitoring to detect leaked cryogenic gases when a shutdown has been performed
Use appropriate respiratory protective equipment when entering MRI scanner room after shutdown
Prevent deployment of metallic objects and equipment beyond the demarcation line when MRI scanner is not shut down
Communicate magnetic resonance imaging scanner status and information to relevant personnel

NOS performance criteria

You must be able to:
Respond to fire and rescue incidents
P 2 Establish key factors about fire and rescue incidents and inform others in line with your organisation’s procedures, including: 2.1 Extent 2.2 Nature 2.3 Location P 3 Establish risks affecting fire and rescue incidents in line with your organisation’s risk assessment procedures P 4 Use agreed methods and techniques to control and reduce fire in line with your agreed tasks and duties at an incident P 5 Operate within appropriate risk control measures in line with your organisation's procedures
Respond to fire and rescue incidents 2889
P Use agreed methods and techniques to control and reduce fire in line with your agreed tasks and duties at an incident P Operate within appropriate risk control measures in line with your organisation's procedures P Report anything which may adversely affect people's safety to others in line with your organisation's procedures P Operate in a safe manner within your agreed level of responsibility and expertise
Support people involved in an operational incident
P 9 Report anything which may adversely affect people's safety to others in line with your organisation's procedures
For the whole standard
P 10 Operate in a safe manner within your agreed level of responsibility and expertise

Hazard
MRI scanners
Hazard
CT scanners

Industry

Control measure

Safe system of work: MRI scanner

Control measure

Consider isolating power supplies for the MRI scanner

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

Practical application

NOS performance criteria