The director of a Maidstone veterinary practice has been given a conditional discharge after he allowed an employee to X-ray her own foot.
Maidstone Magistrates heard how the 25 year-old woman, who was working as a vet and equine intern at Pet Emergency Treatment Services Ltd, feared that her foot was broken after a horse stamped on it.
She called her practice director, Mr Kenward and, as they both thought she may be held up in their hospital’s A&E unit, he suggested she use the site’s in-house X-ray kit. He instructed her on how to use the machine and she carried out the test. As it showed no break to her boot, she carried on working as normal.
Later another director, who works as Radiation Protection Supervisor, noticed there was a human image on the machine and notified other practice board members that he intended to speak to staff regarding the suspected breach of the site’s radiation safety policy. Mr Kenwood straight away informed him that he had suggested the intern used the X-ray.
The company contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and an investigation established that there had been a breach of radiation regulations.
Although the intern was alone during the X-ray, she didn’t wear a personal dosemeter and HSE told the court that Mr Kenward was fully aware of the rules regarding use of the X-ray machine which state that no-one should be placed within the beam given out by the machine. Mr Kenward was ordered to pay £1,296 in costs after he admitted to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rob Hassell said: “Any vet practice using ionising radiation for medical exposures must ensure that the X-ray equipment is properly maintained and that the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations are complied with. The view of HSE and the Department of Health is that it is highly unlikely that all these conditions can be met by a veterinary practice.
“It follows therefore that X-rays must not be taken of human beings at practices. We are aware that the X-raying of people may not be unique to this particular practice so I hope others will take note that HSE is prepared to prosecute if such breaches come to light.”