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CATEGORY RADIATION SAFETY

Gamma Talk by Gamma Tech Three steps to ensure your dental practice remains compliant with NSW radiation regulations

By Makenzie Harris & Martina Dietrich

A ttention dental practice owners inNSW! Are you maintaining compliance with radiation safety regulations, or potentially risking penalties for non-compliance? In this article,we’rehighlighting threeessential steps to ensure your practice remains fully compliant with NSW radiation regulations, as legislated by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). STEP 1: Renew your Radiation Management License (RML) before the expiry date Having a valid RML is a legal requirement for every premises in NSW, that owns and operates radiation emitting devices. You will get a renewal reminder from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and you can also check the expiry date on your RML, or on your EPA eConnect portal. STEP 2: Ensure each piece of x-ray equipment is accurately listed on your RML All x-ray units that are physically in your practice must be registered on your RML. e EPA provides an identi er number for each unit to allow for its tracking throughout its life. is is known as the Radiation Regulated Material ID (RRM#). You can add, edit and remove devices via your eConnect EPA portal. STEP 3: Renew your Certificates of Compliance before the expiry date In NSW, it’s mandatory to have all dental radiographic equipment compliance tested and certi ed after the initial installation and subsequently every 5 years. Recerti cation is also required when a device has a tubehead replacement or is relocated. NOTE: You will not get a reminder to renew your compliance certi cate(s) from the EPA, so it’s of the utmost importance that you review your current certi cation, and book in for re-certi cation accordingly. Key principles to stay safe while working with radiographic equipment in your practice If taking radiographs is part of your job, make sure you’re also familiar with the following key principles to stay safe:

Adhering to NSW radiation regulations is vital for the well-being of your patients, staff, and the public.

u If no protective barrier is present, keep a minimum distance of 2m from the tubehead (primary radiation source) and the patient (scatter radiation source), while taking an x-ray. u Communicate with everyone in close proximity when you’re taking an x-ray, so that they can also remain a safe distance away. u Ensure the x-ray equipment you’re using undergoes regular maintenance, e.g. adhering to its Quality Assurance program and keeping valid compliance certi cation. Ensuring compliance with NSW radiation regulations is crucial for dental practices in NSW, yet it’s a topic that’s often overlooked. If you have queries or concerns regarding compliance requisites or would like further insight into your mandatory requirements as an owner of x-ray equipment, please feel free to contact our friendly team at Gamma Tech. Our mission is to simplify radiation safety for your busy practice while ensuring you’re safe and compliant. Should you identify any areas of non compliance, our team can help with: u License requirements u Registering x-ray equipment u Compliance Testing/Certi cation u Safe disposal of x-ray equipment u Radiation safety consulting How Gamma Tech can help you achieve compliance

Every x-ray unit, OPG and CBCT in your practice must be certified by a Consulting Radiation Expert (CRE) as per legal requirements.

We look forward to supporting your practice and will ensure that it adheres to all NSW radiation regulations for the safety of your patients, workers, and the public. For those seeking CPD hours or a thorough refresher on radiation safety and EPA regulations, save the date for our upcoming webinar in collaboration with the ADA NSW Centre for Professional Development on November 15th, 2023! Further details to follow. u

P: 0437 230 808 E: service@gammatech.com.au W: www.gammatech.com.au

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