This Safety Report provides guidance on the safe use of radiation for imaging and treatment in veterinary medicine with the objective of ensuring the safety and radiation protection of workers and members of the public. The publication addresses occupational exposure and public exposure in the use of radiation in veterinary medicine and safety issues that should be considered in order to be compliant with the International Basic Safety Standards (IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3). Consideration is given to the topics of source security and emergency response that might arise with the use of radioactive material in veterinary medicine. Although primarily intended for regulators and workers in veterinary medicine, the publication will also be relevant for professional bodies, ethics committees, and suppliers of equipment and software.

• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Objective
  • 1.3. Scope
  • 1.4. Structure
• 2. GENERAL GUIDANCE ON RADIATION SAFETY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
  • 2.1. General
  • 2.2. Application of the requirements for radiation protection
    • 2.2.1. Justification
    • 2.2.2. Optimization of protection and safety
    • 2.2.3. Dose limits
  • 2.3. Use of the graded approach
  • 2.4. Roles and responsibilities
    • 2.4.1. Government
    • 2.4.2. Regulatory body
    • 2.4.3. Registrants and licensees
    • 2.4.4. Referring veterinary surgeon
    • 2.4.5. Manufacturers and other suppliers
    • 2.4.6. Maintenance and service engineers
  • 2.5. Education, training, qualification and competence
• 3. RADIATION PROTECTION AND SAFETY IN VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY USING X RAYS
  • 3.1. General
  • 3.2. Safety of veterinary radiation facilities and radiological equipment
    • 3.2.1. Veterinary radiation facilities
    • 3.2.2. Radiological equipment, software and ancillary equipment
  • 3.3. Occupational radiation protection
    • 3.3.1. General
    • 3.3.2. Arrangements under the radiation protection programme
    • 3.3.3. Assessment of occupational exposure
    • 3.3.4. Conditions of service and special arrangements
    • 3.3.5. Education, information, instruction and training
  • 3.4. Radiation protection of the public
    • 3.4.1. Visitors to the facility, animal owners and the public
    • 3.4.2. Monitoring and reporting of public exposure
• 4. RADIATION PROTECTION AND SAFETY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE USING UNSEALED SOURCES
  • 4.1. General
  • 4.2. Safety of veterinary nuclear medicine facilities
    • 4.2.1. Veterinary nuclear medicine facilities
    • 4.2.2. Radiological equipment, software and ancillary equipment
  • 4.3. Occupational radiation protection
    • 4.3.1. General
    • 4.3.2. Arrangements under the radiation protection programme
    • 4.3.3. Assessment of occupational exposure
    • 4.3.4. Conditions of service and special arrangements
    • 4.3.5. Education, information, instruction and training
  • 4.4. Radiation protection of the public
    • 4.4.1. Visitors to the facility, animal owners and the public
    • 4.4.2. Monitoring and reporting of public exposure
  • 4.5. Prevention of accidents and mitigation of their consequences
    • 4.5.1. Safety assessment
    • 4.5.2. Prevention of accidents
    • 4.5.3. Mitigation of the consequences of accidents
  • 4.6. Safety in the transport of radioactive material
• 5. RADIATION PROTECTION AND SAFETY IN VETERINARY RADIATION THERAPY
  • 5.1. General
  • 5.2. Safety of veterinary radiation therapy facilities and radiological equipment
    • 5.2.1. Radiation therapy facilities
    • 5.2.2. Radiological equipment, software and ancillary equipment
  • 5.3. Occupational radiation protection
    • 5.3.1. General
    • 5.3.2. Arrangements under the radiation protection programme
    • 5.3.3. Assessment of occupational exposure
    • 5.3.4. Conditions of service and special arrangements
    • 5.3.5. Protection of workers responding to incidents in a veterinary radiation therapy facility
    • 5.3.6. Education, information, instruction and training
  • 5.4. Radiation protection of the public
    • 5.4.1. Visitors to the facility, animal owners and the public
    • 5.4.2. Monitoring and reporting of public exposure
    • 5.4.3. Disposal of radioactive material
  • 5.5. Prevention of accidents and mitigation of their consequences
    • 5.5.1. Safety assessment
    • 5.5.2. Prevention of accidents
    • 5.5.3. Mitigation of the consequences of accidents
  • 5.6. Safety in the transport of radioactive material
• Appendix I PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR USE IN VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
• Appendix II PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH SPILLAGES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AND WITH DECONTAMINATION OF PERSONS IN A VETERINARY RADIATION FACILITY
• Appendix III GIVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RELEASE OF ANIMALS FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF 131I OR OF COMPOUNDS LABELLED WITH 131I
• Appendix IV TYPICAL RADIATION SAFETY FEATURES FOR ROOMS USED FOR THE STORAGE, PREPARATION AND IMPLANTATION OF SEALED SOURCES FOR VETERINARY BRACHYTHERAPY
• REFERENCES
• Annex GUIDELINES ON RADIATION PROTECTION EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW