Working alone or out of hours in the SPMMRC

You may not undertake any of the activites listed in Groups A, B and C unless you have been properly trained, are aware of the relevant hazard assessments, and are aware of the emergency procedures. In the following a 'buddy' is an appropriately skilled MR worker or student, who has been properly trained and is aware of the emergency procedures etc., who has previously been agreed with an MR Competent Person or MR advisor. The buddy must know that they are acting as your buddy and must be within easy reach on a phone line.

When working out of hours with a buddy present in the building, the book in reception must be signed, then the activities listed in groups A and B may be undertaken.
When working out of hours with a buddy present in the room, the book in reception must be signed, then the activities listed in groups C may be undertaken.
When working alone during normal working hours you may carry out the activities listed in groups A and B , You may not undertake activities listed in group C.
When working alone, out of hours (before 8.00 am or after 7.00 pm, or weekends and holidays) you must sign the book in reception, then you may carry out the activities in group A. You may not undertake the activities listed in groups B and C.

GROUP

A Running scanner machine, altering and testing scanner software, changing phantoms and RF coils. Changing low voltage BNC connectors. Resetting trips on Techron and RF amplifiers and reseting Philips power circuits.
B Scanning volunteers using established protocols. Filling cryostat.
C Work involving the removal of safety covers including:- Altering gradient coil connections. RF amplifier wiring. Techron amplifier wiring.

Basis

The HSE does not prohibit solitary working, except in certain circumstances, provided that suitable training is provided and that emergency procedures are in place. HSE IND(G)73(L) 20M 9/90 The University Health and Safety Code of Practice on electrical safety (1995 part C p6) states that work involving extensive exposure to live conductors at dangerous voltages should only be carried out by a competent person within sight and sound of another competent person. The University safety handbook under 'General Precautions' stresses the potential dangers of carrying out experimental work at night and states that the practice should be strongly discouraged. It goes on to say that such work must only be carried out with the knowledge of the School Safety Officer and the consent of the Head of School and that if such work is essential, every effort should be made to ensure that another worker is within hearing distance and that security staff should be asked to make regular contact. Under 'General Laboratory Instructions' (p20) it is stated that out of hours working must be subject to appropriate School. regulations. The School of Physics and Astronomy Safety Handbook states that ouside normal working hours users must sign the book in reception, and that laboratory work should not be carried out by a person who is alone in the building.

The instructions above are intended to interpret this in the particular case of the operation of MR imaging and spectroscopy machines in the SPMMRC, when required to operate outside of normal hours, with safety as the overriding concern. The assumption here is that the principal risk to solitary users of research MR scanners is from projectile effect, electric shock, flash burns, RF burns or electrically induced fire. These instructions are aimed at restricting the exposure of solitary users to voltages less than those deemed dangerous. (50V ac or 120V DC in dry conditions), and preventing the solitary user from accessng any wiring capable of producing such effects. Other hazards in particular applications may negate this assumption requiring different instructions.

Updated PAG 20-12-2006