Potential Workplace Hazards Associated with Magnetic Fields
The establishment of thorough and effective screening procedures for students is one of the most critical components that guards their safety when working in the MR environment. An important aspect of protecting students from MR system-related accidents and injuries involves an understanding of the risks associated with the various implants, devices, accessories, and other objects that may cause problems in this setting. In MRI, the magnetic field is ALWAYS on.
Please review the information in the ACR Manual on MR Safety published by the American College of Radiology. MRI Students shall refer to the Owens MRI Program Technical Standards for review. Students who are accepted into the MRI program will complete an MRI safety screening form.
MRI Safety Screening
- All students must complete an MRI safety screening form upon being accepted into the MRI program and each year in the MRI program to ensure safety of entering an MRI suite.
- If a student experiences any changes to the responses from No to Yes in the MRI screening form, then the Program Director or the Clinical Education Coordinator must be informed immediately.
- All students must comply with each clinical site’s policy and procedures pertaining to ferromagnetic or metallic objects in the MRI suite to avoid adverse situations.
- Students shall respect and follow the limitations of devices, equipment and personal items that are allowed in the MRI Suite.