Posted By John Donaldson The question of X Rays for medical surveillance has come up in another forum which I belong to. One of my colleagues has contributed the following which puts it very clearly. “The European Medical Exposures Directive and the UK Ionising Radiations (medical exposure ) Regulations (2000) cover the use of x-rays for all such purposes. Any x-ray procedure carried out on an individual for whatever reason would need to be individually justified, i.e. the net clinical benefit to the individual (or in certain cases society as a whole) would need to outweigh the radiation detriment to the individual.”

Posted By Bryn Maidment John The consensus appears to be that there is no apparently valid reason to conduct chest x rays on your staff. In certain circumstances such as in advanced congestive cardiac disease work in elevated pressure environments may cause fluid on the lungs which an x ray would pick up. However if a person were to be suffering from advanced CCD they would not be healthy nor in work. People with previous history of pneumothorax (which high pressure may exacerbate)may have x rays but only when they are suffering and again they are not going to be in work. Incidentally our 'fitness to work' bible indicates that those engaged in diving or working in hyperbaric chambers should have medicals every 3yrs under 40 but more frequently over. The only other medical issue, slightly outside your original question, was that of restrictions on staff working in high pressure with ear infections or colds. Please do seek an 'authoritative' answer, perhaps from EMAS, but your original assertion on necessity for x rays appears well founded ......... unless someone from MOD can come up with a better argument for them. Hope this helps Regards from University Hospital Lewisham!!