Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Occupational Hazards in a Hospital Radiology Department: A Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

Abstract

Background:

Radiology departments pose significant occupational hazards to healthcare workers due to complex equipment, hazardous materials, and high-risk procedures.

Aim:

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) of occupational hazards in a hospital radiology department to enhance staff safety.

Settings and Design:

The study was conducted in a large tertiary care hospital using a systematic FMEA approach.

Subject and Methodology:

Processes and systems within the radiology department were mapped, and potential failure modes were identified and assessed using a Risk Priority Number (RPN) scoring system.

Results:

The FMEA identified critical failure modes across radiation safety, infection control, equipment maintenance, ergonomic issues, emergency preparedness, chemical safety, fire safety, and engineering controls, with associated RPN scores.

Conclusions:

Proactive risk assessment through FMEA is crucial for improving occupational safety in radiology departments. Implementing identified control measures can significantly enhance the safety and well-being of healthcare workers.

INTRODUCTION

Radiology departments in hospitals play a crucial role in patient care, but they also present unique safety challenges for healthcare workers due to the complex equipment, hazardous materials, and high-risk procedures involved.[1,2] Radiology staff are exposed to a variety of occupational hazards, including radiation exposure, infectious diseases, chemical hazards, ergonomic issues, and electrical dangers.[3,4] Failure to address these risks can lead to serious health consequences for radiology personnel, such as radiation-induced illnesses, musculoskeletal disorders, and work-related stress and burnout.[5,6]

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a proactive risk assessment tool that can help identify and mitigate potential failures in radiology operations, including occupational hazards faced by staff.[7,8] By systematically analyzing the various processes and systems within the radiology department, FMEA can uncover potential failure modes, assess their severity, occurrence, and detection, and develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies.[9,10]

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive FMEA of occupational hazards in a hospital radiology department to enhance the safety and well-being of healthcare workers. The findings from this research can serve as a valuable resource for healthcare organizations to improve the overall occupational safety and quality of their radiology services.

Study design

The primary aim of this study is to perform a thorough FMEA of occupational hazards in a hospital radiology department to identify potential failure modes, assess their severity, occurrence, and detection, and develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies. The specific objectives are:

To systematically analyze the various processes and systems within the radiology department and identify potential failure modes that could lead to occupational hazards for staff.

To evaluate the severity, occurrence, and detection of the identified failure modes using a Risk Priority Number (RPN) scoring system.

To propose effective control measures and recommendations to reduce the risk of identified occupational hazards.

To enhance the overall safety and well-being of healthcare workers in the radiology department.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted in a 1000-bed teaching hospital, which also serves as a tertiary-level healthcare provider. The hospital includes a comprehensive radiology department offering a range of imaging services, including interventional radiology, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, general radiography, and reporting workstations for radiologists. This study employed a comprehensive FMEA approach to assess the occupational hazards in the radiology department of a large tertiary care hospital.

The radiology department includes staff members with varying levels of experience, from students and residents to fully qualified radiologists and technologists. However, this study has taken into consideration only the staff including radiologists and radiology technicians. Students were excluded from the assessment, as they do not work independently and are always under supervision in accordance with the hospital’s protocols.

The methodology involved the following steps:

Process mapping

The key processes and systems within the radiology department, including imaging modalities, radiation safety, infection control, equipment maintenance, and emergency preparedness were mapped.[11,12,13,14]

Failure mode identification

Potential failure modes that could lead to occupational hazards were identified for each process through a thorough review of the available literature.

The process functions were segregated into eight categories and potential areas of failure in general in each of these functions were identified. Under these potential areas of failure, a total of 120 failure modes were identified for performing FMEA. Effects of failure of each of these failure modes were interpreted based on literature review and the Severity (S), Occurrence (O) and Detection ratings (D) were given to get the RPN [Table 1].

Table 1.

Table depicting the process functions and potential areas of failure identified for FMEA

Process Functions	Potential areas of failure
Engineering and infrastructural controls	Environmental Controls Workspace Organization and Safety Accessibility and Mobility Operational Safety
Radiation protection	Shielding and Barriers Monitoring and Surveys Protective Equipment and Procedures Compliance and Safety Standards Alerts and Documentation
Infection control	Hygiene, Disinfection, and Sanitation Protective Equipment and Disposal Policies and Training Environmental Controls Screening and Vaccination
Fire Safety	Detection and Alarm Systems Fire Suppression and Extinguishers Emergency Exits and Evacuation Electrical Safety Fire-Resistant Materials
Ergonomic controls	Workstation Ergonomics Safe Handling and Movement Work Environment Work Practices Psychological health
Equipment management	Equipment Maintenance Electrical Safety
Chemical safety	Chemical Management Chemical exposure Documentation and Procedures
Emergency preparedness	Emergency Planning and Coordination Training and Drills Designated Safety Measures

Risk assessment

The identified failure modes were evaluated based on their severity, occurrence, and detection using a standardized RPN scoring system. The RPN scores ranged from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher risk.

The scoring system followed is depicted in Table 2.

Table 2.

Depicting the severity, occurrence, and detection scores used in the study

Severity (S)
Rating	Description	Criteria
1	No Injury	No significant injury or health impact.
2	Minor Injury	Minor injury requiring first aid treatment.
3	Moderate Injury	Injury requiring medical treatment but not hospitalization.
4	Serious Injury	Serious injury resulting in temporary disability or hospitalization.
5	Severe Injury	Severe injury leading to permanent disability.
6	Fatality	Injury resulting in death.
Occurrence (O)
Rating	Description	Criteria
1	Remote	Less than once in a million (extremely unlikely).
2	Very Low	Once in 100,000 to one million (very unlikely).
3	Low	Once in 10,000 to 100,000 (unlikely).
4	Moderate	Once in 1,000 to 10,000 (possible).
5	High	Once in 100 to 1,000 (likely).
6	Very High	More than once in 100 (almost certain).
Detection (D)
Rating	Description	Criteria
1	Almost Certain	Hazard is almost certain to be detected before it causes harm.
2	Very High	Very high chance of detecting the hazard.
3	High	High likelihood of detecting the hazard.
4	Moderate	Moderate chance of detecting the hazard.
5	Low	Low chance of detecting the hazard before it causes harm.
6	Very Low	Very low chance of detecting the hazard before it causes harm.

Example: For reliable elevator operations:

Severity: 5 (could result in serious injury or temporary disability if a patient or staff is trapped).

Occurrence: 5 (malfunctions are highly likely to occur).

Detectability: 2 high chances of detecting the malfunction with regular maintenance checks.

RPN Calculation: 5 (severity) ×5(occurrence) ×2 (detectability) =50.

Risk prioritization

Failure modes with the highest RPNs were prioritized for mitigation. For instance, high RPN failure modes identified in the analysis included equipment malfunctions in CT and MRI machines, misinterpretation of images due to communication gaps, and protocol deviations in interventional radiology [Figure 1].

Figure 1.

Showing the risk matrix based on RPN scores

Risk mitigation

For failure modes with high RPN scores, appropriate control measures are proposed and recommendations to reduce the associated occupational risks.

RESULTS

The comprehensive FMEA of occupational hazards in the radiology department identified a range of potential failure modes across various processes and systems, with RPN scores ranging from 12 to 90. The key findings and their implications [Supplementary Table 1] are discussed in detail below:

Supplementary Table 1.

FMEA scoring of the risks of occupational hazards in a hospital radiology department

Parameter	Effects of failure	Severity	Occurrence	Detection	RPN
Engineering and design controls
Appropriate lighting	Visual disturbances, fatigue	3	4	2	24
Proper ventilation for air quality	Respiratory issues, decreased productivity, fatigue	4	3	3	36
Sufficient working area	Reduced productivity, fatigue	3	4	2	24
Secure shelving and storage	Physical injuries 1 4 6	4	4	2	32
Access to safe drinking water	Dehydration, water-borne diseases	3	4	2	24
Safe access via ramps and walking paths	Physical injuries, delayed emergency response	5	5	2	50
Reliable elevator operations	Physical injuries, delayed emergency response	5	5	2	50
Slip-resistant spacious circulation areas	Physical injuries	4	5	3	60
MRI warning lights and signs	Exposure to magnetic fields	4	4	2	32
Accessible control room from CT room	Musculoskeletal strains, delayed emergency response	3	4	2	24
Use of patient transfer aids	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	5	4	60
Proper storage for coils, sandbags, and cushions	Slips, trips, and falls	3	4	2	24
Organized and clutter-free workstations	Slips, trips, and falls	3	4	2	24
Adjustable workstations	Musculoskeletal injuries	2	4	3	24
Adjustable Monitor stands	Eye strain, musculoskeletal injuries	2	4	3	24
Adequate storage system	Physical and chemical injuries	3	4	3	36
Maintaining temperature and humidity	Exacerbation of respiratory illness, discomfort	3	4	2	24
Ergonomic and functional workspaces for staff	Musculoskeletal injuries	2	4	3	24
Organized storage and housekeeping facilities	Inefficiency, spills, and chemical or physical injuries	3	4	2	24
Radiation Protection
Portable lead screens	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	5	2	40
Area monitors for dose monitoring	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	4	3	48
Proper radiation shielding in rooms	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	5	5	2	50
Lead-shielded control doors	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	5	5	2	50
Regular radiation area surveys	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	4	2	32
X-ray rooms built to guidelines	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	5	6	2	60
Use of protective equipment (lead aprons, thyroid shields, etc.)	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	5	5	2	50
Lead-coated double doors	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	5	5	2	50
Post-installation radiation protection surveys	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	4	2	32
Documenting radiation dose index for each CT exam	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	4	2	32
Audible and visual alarms for high radiation levels	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	3	3	3	27
Radiation safety and technique charts	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	3	3	2	18
Daily use of TLD badges by radiographers	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	5	2	40
X-ray procedure indicator outside rooms	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	3	5	2	30
Equipment installed as per guidelines	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	5	2	40
Regular radiation safety audits	Radiation injuries, diseases from radiation exposure	4	4	2	32
Infection Control
HEPA filters in radiology rooms	Respiratory infections, exposure to airborne pathogens	4	4	3	48
Hand-washing stations	Bacterial and viral infections	4	4	2	32
Hand sanitizers	Bacterial and viral infections	3	4	2	24
Regular cleaning of surfaces and equipment	HAIs, cross-contamination	4	4	2	32
Proper disposal of PPE	Cross-contamination	4	4	2	32
Provided infection control policy	Spread of infections, outbreaks	4	4	2	32
Use of standard precautions	Bacterial and viral infections	4	4	2	32
Needle stick injury management plan	Bloodborne infections (HIV, Hepatitis B and C)	5	4	2	40
Use of approved disinfectants	Skin irritation, respiratory issues, chemical injuries	4	4	3	48
Safe antiseptics and disinfectants	Skin reactions, respiratory issues, chemical injuries	4	4	2	32
Cleanliness in washrooms and wash areas	Bacterial and viral infections	3	4	2	24
Hand-washing stations in each procedure room	Bacterial and viral infections	3	4	2	24
Clearly labeled biohazard bins for contaminated materials	Cross-contamination	3	4	2	24
Designated bins for used PPE	Cross-contamination	3	4	2	24
Effective spill management training	Chemical exposure, infections from contaminated spills	4	4	2	32
Screening protocols for infected patients	Cross-contamination	3	4	3	36
Clean and safe environment	Cross-contamination	3	4	1	12
Staff vaccinations	Preventable diseases	4	4	2	32
Regular health screenings	Preventable diseases	4	4	2	32
Use of PPE when handling infected patients	Cross-contamination	4	4	2	32
Fire Safety
Routine checks of smoke detectors and fire sprinklers	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Installed and maintained smoke detectors	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Regular testing of sprinkler systems	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Accessible and regularly inspected fire extinguishers	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Proper working condition of fire safety equipment	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Safe conditions of fire suppression systems	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Accessible fire exits	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Inspection of electrical wiring and outlets	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Use of surge protectors	Fire hazard	6	4	3	72
Operational fire alarm systems	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Clearly marked emergency exits and evacuation routes	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Displayed evacuation plans	Fire hazard	6	4	2	48
Installed emergency lighting in evacuation routes	Physical injuries	4	4	3	48
Non-magnetic fire extinguishers in MRI suites	Physical hazards	3	4	2	24
Use of fire-resistant materials	Fire hazard	3	4	2	24
Ergonomic Safety
Adjustable equipment in workstations	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	3	2	18
Ergonomic compliance of workstations	Any occupational injury	3	3	2	18
Training on lifting techniques	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	4	3	36
Safe procedures for moving heavy equipment	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	4	3	36
Adjustable imaging tables	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	4	2	24
Easy-to-reach imaging equipment controls	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	4	2	24
Availability of patient transfer aids	Musculoskeletal injuries	3	4	2	24
Well-lit work areas	Visual disturbances	3	4	2	24
Regular breaks and rotation	Work fatigue	3	4	2	24
Proper fitting PPE	Infections, radiation hazards	4	4	2	32
Temperature modifications	Hypothermia, lower productivity	3	3	2	18
Noise control measures	Hearing disturbances	4	4	2	32
Fair workload distribution	Burnout	4	4	2	32
Equipment Safety
Regular inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment	Physical injury, electrical hazards	6	5	2	60
Proper grounding of electrical devices	Physical injury, electrical hazards	6	5	2	60
Routine CT machine inspections	Physical injury, electrical hazards, radiation hazards	4	4	2	32
Emergency power off button in the CT control station	Electrical hazards	5	4	2	40
Daily X-ray tube warmup	Radiation hazards	3	4	2	24
Regular dosimetry checks	Radiation hazards	5	4	2	40
Routine X-ray tube inspections	Radiation hazards	5	4	2	40
Removal of non-functioning equipment	Physical injuries	3	3	2	18
Magnetic shielding in place	Injuries from magnetic attraction of metallic objects	4	4	2	32
Regular maintenance of equipment and facilities	Electrical hazards	3	4	2	24
Knowledge and accessibility of circuit breakers	Electrical hazards	4	5	2	40
Availability of emergency power shut-offs	Electrical hazards	4	4	2	32
Proper grounding and bonding of equipment	Electrical hazards	6	5	3	90
Safety of cables, outlets, ducts, and switchboards	Electrical hazards	6	5	2	60
Proper power control and panel management	Electrical hazards	5	4	2	40
Use of appropriate circuit breakers and fuses	Electrical hazards	6	4	2	48
Clean and functional medical equipment	Infections	3	3	2	18
Chemical Safety
Up-to-date chemical inventory	Chemical injuries from outdated products	3	4	3	36
Proper chemical labeling	Unidentified chemical exposure and injuries	3	4	2	24
Appropriate storage conditions for chemicals	Chemical exposure, reactions	3	4	2	24
Proper chemical waste disposal procedures	Chemical injuries	3	4	2	24
Availability of spill kits and decontamination supplies	Chemical injuries	3	4	2	24
Availability of MSDS sheets	Delayed response to chemical injuries	3	4	2	24
Proper handling of contrast agents	Chemical reactions	4	4	2	32
Medical surveillance program for staff	Health hazards	4	4	3	48
Emergency showers and eyewash stations	Delayed response to chemical injuries	3	4	2	24
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency response plan	Psychological stress, anxiety, physical injuries	5	4	2	40
Accessible and well-stocked first aid kits	Infection from untreated wounds, exacerbation of injuries	4	4	3	48
Designated safe assembly points	Physical injuries	4	4	2	32
Hospital coordination for emergency response	Increased risk of injuries and medical complications	3	4	2	24
Evacuation plan in case of emergency	Physical injuries	5	4	2	40
Maintained SOP manual for emergencies	Delayed response leading to physical hazards	4	4	2	32
Regular simulation exercises and drills	Delayed response leading to physical hazards	5	4	2	40
Access to radiation safety officers	Delayed response leading to physical, radiation, and chemical hazards	4	4	2	32
Attendance at regular training and induction programs	Delayed response leading to physical hazards	4	4	2	32
Procedures for quarantining areas and equipment that may be contaminated.	Cross-contamination	3	4	2	24
Workload Management	Psychological issues, burnout	3	5	3	45
Monitoring and managing work hours	Psychological issues, burnout	3	5	3	45
Availability of mental health support and counseling	Psychological issues, burnout	3	5	3	45
A positive and supportive workplace environment	Psychological issues, burnout	3	5	3	45

HAIs=Healthcare-associated infections, FMEA=Failure mode and effects analysis, RPN=Risk priority number, TLD=Thermoluminescent dosimeter, HEPA=High-efficiency particulate air, HIV=Human immunodeficiency virus, PPE=Personal protective equipment, MRI=Magnetic resonance imaging, CT=Computed tomography, MSDS=Material safety data sheet, SOP=Standard operating procedure

Radiation safety

The analysis revealed several critical radiation safety concerns, with high RPN scores ranging from 40 to 60. Radiation Protection measures revealed several high-risk failure modes with significant RPN scores, such as inadequate shielding (RPN 50), improper use of protective equipment (RPN 50), and insufficient radiation safety audits (RPN 32). These failures pose serious health risks from radiation exposure, including radiation injuries and diseases. Proposed interventions focus on enhancing shielding protocols, enforcing proper use of protective gear like lead aprons and thyroid shields, and conducting regular radiation safety audits to monitor and minimize exposure risks.

Infection control

Potential failures in infection control measures, such as inadequate hand hygiene, improper disinfection of equipment, and poor management of contaminated materials, were identified as high-risk areas with RPN scores of 32 to 48. Infection Control practices highlighted critical failure modes like inadequate hand hygiene (RPN 32), improper disinfection procedures (RPN 32), and lack of infection control policies (RPN 32). These vulnerabilities increase the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and cross-contamination among staff. Control strategies include installing HEPA filters in radiology rooms, maintaining hand-washing stations, and implementing stringent disinfection protocols to mitigate infection risks effectively.

Equipment safety

This study highlights the importance of regular equipment maintenance, proper grounding, and emergency power management to mitigate the risks of electrical hazards and equipment malfunctions. Equipment Safety assessments identified electrical hazards (RPN 60) and equipment malfunctions (RPN 40) as significant concerns, necessitating regular inspections, proper grounding procedures, and emergency power management protocols. The department should prioritize these safety measures, with RPN scores ranging from 40 to 90, to prevent potential catastrophic failures.

Ergonomic and workload management

Musculoskeletal injuries, work-related stress, and burnout were identified as significant concerns for radiology staff, with RPN scores ranging from 36 to 45. Failure to provide ergonomic workstations, implement fair workload distribution, and offer mental health support and counseling can lead to decreased productivity, fatigue, and psychological issues like burnout. The department should focus on adjustable equipment, patient transfer aids, and regular breaks and rotation to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Monitoring and managing work hours and fostering a positive and supportive workplace environment are also crucial for preventing burnout and promoting staff well-being.

Emergency preparedness

Emergency Preparedness assessments identified critical failure modes such as inadequate emergency response plans (RPN 40), lack of first aid readiness (RPN 48), and insufficient staff training (RPN 32). These vulnerabilities could compromise the hospital’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, potentially leading to increased risks of injuries and medical. Failure to have an accessible and well-stocked first aid kit, conduct regular simulation exercises and drills, and maintain a comprehensive SOP manual for emergencies can increase the risk of injuries and medical complications for radiology staff during emergencies.

Chemical safety

Chemical Safety evaluations emphasized risks associated with chemical exposure (RPN 36), improper handling procedures (RPN 24), and inadequate safety protocols (RPN 24). These failures can lead to chemical injuries and delayed response to spills or accidents. The potential failures in chemical safety identified includes improper storage conditions, lack of spill management training, and inadequate access to safety data sheets. These failures can lead to chemical exposures, skin irritation, respiratory issues, and delayed response to chemical injuries, with RPN scores ranging from 24 to 48.

Fire safety

Several critical fire safety concerns were identified, with RPN scores ranging from 48 to 72. These include failure to conduct routine checks of smoke detectors and fire sprinklers, lack of properly installed and maintained smoke detectors, and improper working condition of fire safety equipment. Failure to address these issues can lead to serious fire hazards, putting radiology staff and patients at risk of injury or death. To mitigate these risks, the department should prioritize regular testing and maintenance of fire safety equipment, ensure accessible and regularly inspected fire extinguishers, and maintain safe conditions of fire suppression systems.

Engineering and design controls

The FMEA highlighted essential engineering and design controls necessary to ensure a safe environment for radiology work. Adequate lighting and ventilation prevent visual disturbances and fatigue (RPN 24), while proper ventilation reduces respiratory issues and enhances productivity (RPN 36). Effective workstation design with ample space and secure storage prevents physical injuries and boosts productivity. Accessible pathways and reliable elevators ensure safety and quick emergency response (RPN 50). Organized equipment storage and ergonomic workspaces mitigate musculoskeletal injuries and enhance staff comfort (RPNs 24-60). Implementing these controls is vital for minimizing occupational hazards in radiology, ensuring a safe and efficient workplace.

DISCUSSION

The comprehensive FMEA conducted on occupational hazards in the radiology department has revealed several critical areas necessitating immediate attention to bolster the safety and well-being of healthcare workers. Key findings from the study underscore significant risks across various domains where Radiation Safety emerged as a major concern due to deficiencies in shielding, monitoring, PPE usage, and safety audits, resulting in high-risk scenarios for radiation injuries and diseases (RPN 40-60). Infection Control failures, including lapses in hand hygiene, equipment disinfection, and management of contaminated materials, could pose risks of healthcare-associated infections and cross-contamination (RPN 32-48). Equipment Safety deficiencies such as inadequate maintenance, grounding issues, and emergency power management highlighted risks of electrical hazards and equipment malfunctions (RPN 40-90).

Ergonomic and Workload Management shortcomings were identified as significant contributors to musculoskeletal injuries, work-related stress, and burnout (RPN 36-45), primarily attributed to ergonomic workstation inadequacies and uneven workload distribution. Emergency Preparedness gaps, particularly in emergency response planning, staff training, and hospital protocol coordination, indicated potential delays and inefficiencies in critical incident responses.

The study’s strengths include its comprehensive FMEA methodology, systematically identifying and prioritizing potential failures across diverse processes and systems in the radiology department. Detailed discussions on the implications of identified failure modes provides valuable insights for developing evidence-based policies and practices to enhance occupational safety.

However, limitations of the study include its single-center focus, which may restrict the generalizability of findings to other healthcare settings. The study also lacked specific details on implementation strategies and timelines for recommended interventions, as well as quantitative assessments of their potential impacts on reducing hazards and improving staff safety.

Moving forward, the study emphasizes the critical need for proactive risk assessment and the implementation of robust control measures across all radiology settings to mitigate occupational hazards effectively in radiology departments. Addressing these findings through enhanced radiation safety protocols, improved infection control measures, rigorous equipment maintenance practices, and ergonomic enhancements can foster a safer work environment for radiology staff, ultimately benefiting patient care and healthcare outcomes.

Future research directions should explore multi-center studies to validate findings across diverse settings, quantitative evaluations to measure intervention effectiveness, and innovations in technology and organizational practices to further enhance safety in radiology departments. Additionally, ongoing research into FMEA methodology reliability and comprehensive safety training programs will be pivotal in promoting a strong safety culture and sustaining long-term improvements in occupational safety within healthcare environments.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive FMEA of occupational hazards in a hospital radiology department has identified a range of potential failure modes across various processes and systems. The study highlights the importance of proactive risk assessment and the implementation of effective control measures to enhance the safety and well-being of healthcare workers in radiology departments. The findings and recommendations from this study can serve as a valuable resource for healthcare organizations to improve the overall occupational safety and quality of their radiology services.

Ethical clearance

Permission to conduct this study was obtained from the hospital administration. The study did not involve any patients or animal subjects. Informed consent was obtained from all staff members who participated in the study.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Funding Statement

Nil.