About this task
It is vital to have supervised and controlled access within the MR environment to keep it safe from ferromagnetic items and to guard against accidents, injuries, or damage to the system. Keep in mind that even a paperclip inside the bore of the magnet can cause image artifacts or a patient burn. All personnel should be aware of the following important steps.
Step-by-step instructions
- Keep the door to the MR environment and the magnet door closed.
- The doors should not be held open for other people or propped open.
- Only essential personnel should be allowed to enter the magnet room.
- Limit and monitor access to the MR environment and magnet room.
- Personnel trained in MR safety should be present at all times during the operation of your MR facility to ensure that no unaccompanied or unauthorized individuals are allowed to enter the MR environment or magnet room.
- Personnel trained in MR safety are also responsible for performing thorough screening of patients and other individuals before allowing them to enter the magnet room.
- Supervise non-MR personnel when working in the magnet room.
- Everyone who needs to enter the MR environment on a regular or periodic basis should be educated regarding the potential hazards related to the magnetic field.
- Prominently display the Security and Exclusion Zone warning signs to make all individuals and patients aware of the risks associated with the MR system.
- The Security Zone sign must be posted on the entrance to the magnet room.*
- These signs warn patients about the strong magnetic field and stresses the presence that no pacemakers, metallic implants, neurostimulators, or loose objects are allowed.
- The Exclusion Zone sign must be posted at the 5 gauss boundary.*
- This sign warns against the strong magnetic field and stresses the presence of no pacemakers, metallic implants, or neurostimulators.
*In general, patients with conductive (e.g. metallic) implants are contraindicated for MR scans. Some implantable devices have been labeled as MR Conditional under certain operating conditions. Only use quadrature transmit for MR Conditional devices. MR Safe implants will have the MR Safe symbol in their implant documentation.
When evaluating whether to proceed with MR scanning on patients with such implants, consult the implantable device’s labeling.
- Test all items for ferromagnetic properties before taking them into the magnet room.
- Use a hand magnet to test items.
- Remove ferrous items from the immediate vicinity of the magnet room.
- This can reduce the chance that someone might carry a ferrous item into the magnet room.
- Replace ferrous items that must remain in the vicinity of the magnet room with non-ferrous versions whenever possible.
- Tag ferrous items that remain at the facility so that all personnel know the item cannot be taken into the magnet room.
- Tag all ferrous items with the same label to be consistent in identifying items that are not to be in the magnet room.
- Do a pocket check before entering the magnet room.
- Check for loose metal objects, such as keys, and remove.
- Keep the magnet door in sight at all times.
- When working in the magnet room, do not stand between the door and the magnet or turn your back to the door.
- Do not turn your back on the patient or anyone else in the magnet room.
