Annual Associate Safety Module

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) MRI Safety and YOU!

• MRI uses a large magnet with a powerful magnetic field,

radiofrequencies (RF fields), and changing magnetic fields to image patient tissues for assessing injuries, diseases, and abnormal conditions.

• This valuable diagnostic tool has real, unforgiving risks

that can endanger patients, staff, and visitors. MRI must be respected at all times.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Trained, qualified technologists operate MRI facilities and carefully control people entering MRI areas and potential risks.

MRI Staff

MRI Posted Zones

MRI facilities have 4 zones associated with the potential hazards. • Zone I: any unrestricted area. These areas are

not always posted. • Zone II: NOTICE. Threshold to MRI restricted

areas where everyone is evaluated to enter Zones III and IV.

MRI Posted Zones

• Zone III: Caution Area is restricted to persons who have been screened and trained. Always report to an MRI technologist before entering Zone III.

• Zone IV: DANGER! MRI scanner room. The magnet is ALWAYS on.

MRI Zone IV Hazards • Although MRI scanning has no known risks to

the patient, the facility has unseen physical hazards that can imperil patients, staff, visitors, and emergency responders if not observed and respected.

MRI Projectile Effect – Zone IV

The MRI’s magnetic field has a strong attractive force for any iron-bearing metals. A wrench in the MRI room accelerates toward the magnet with a force of hundreds of pounds, like being dropped from the 7th floor to pavement. A paper clip or scissors can be instantly pulled from a pocket or hand toward the magnet.

A person between a flying metal projectile and the magnet can be hit causing severe or fatal injuries. A person hit by a wheel chair, stretcher, or oxygen cylinder might suffer the same serious damage as being hit by a small car.

MRI Projectile Effect – Zone IV

MRI Screenings of Persons

Screening of all people entering MRI restricted areas is essential for health and safety. A screening questionnaire identifies potential risk factors, such as medical conditions, implants, or imbedded metals that MRI physicians and technologists can evaluate for compatibility. • Metal implants can shift causing internal damage.

RF fields can heat metals causing an internal burn.

• High magnetic fields can make a pacemaker malfunction.

MRI staff use metal detectors and magnets to monitor people and equipment for potentially incompatible materials. Equipment routinely used in MRI areas should bear FDA MRI safety labels.

MRI Screenings of Persons

MRI Safe Equipment

• Equipment near the MRI magnet room have MRI labels.

• MRI Safe: Equipment is known to be non-magnetic and suitable for use in Zone IV.

• MRI Conditional: Equipment appears to be non-magnetic.

• MRI Unsafe: The device is magnetic and cannot be brought into the scan room.

Items That Must Be Removed Before Entering Zone III • Remove all metal objects, for example:

• Keys, pens, paper clips, nail clippers, pins, scissors, pagers, stethoscopes, watches, radios

• Earrings, hair clips, cell phones, steel-toes shoes

• Remove anything with magnetic data, for example: • ID badges, computer disks, ATM cards, credit cards

Notify MRI Staff If You Have Electromechanical Devices, for example:

• hearing aid • pacemaker. • The scan room is strictly off limits! DO NOT ENTER!

• Internal Metal Objects, for example: • any internal metal objects, e.g., from surgery,

accidents (metal shard near the eye ball), military service (metal fragments or slivers)

• artificial limbs, prostheses, metal pins or plates, surgical clips or staples, aneurysm clips, medically implanted devices

Hospital Staff Check-in with MRI techs to ensure your equipment is MRI compatible. Some examples are:

• Patient Transport: wheel chairs, stretchers, O2 bottles • Environmental Services: mop buckets, floor buffers, carts • Facility Services: all tools, ladders • Anesthesia / Respiratory Therapy: verify all equipment is

MRI safe. • Physical Therapy: traction, wrist, or ankle weights • EKG: Prevent leads from crossing or contacting near the

magnet.

MRI Emergency Response

• In the event of a patient emergency, MRI staff will remove the patient to Zone II or I, where the team can attend to the patient. Emergency teams and code carts are NOT permitted in the scan room.

• Fire fighters are NOT permitted in the scan room, even after normal working hours. The MRI Safe fire extinguisher in the suite can be used by qualified staff.

• NO EXCEPTIONS. The magnet is always on.

MRI Coolant Quench

• A quench is an abnormal termination of magnet operation.

• Liquid helium and nitrogen cryogens cool the super-conducting magnet to a temperature near absolute zero degrees. These liquids instantly become gases if released in the scan room reducing oxygen concentration and temperature to dangerous levels.

• All persons must immediately evacuate the scan room under this unlikely scenario.

MRI Precaution Summary

• All staff must exercise extra care and caution when entering the MRI suite. Let the MRI technologist know you are present and what you plan to do.

• Our knowledgeable MRI staff can answer your

questions and help you and our patients stay safe.