Below are
questions that may come up concerning use of X-ray equipment and film at
your facility and recommendations.
Q.
Is it safe to use an X-ray machine or film
processor after it gets wet?
A.
Any water near or on an electrical device may pose a shock hazard.
Important safety issues to remember are:
-
Do not operate equipment that is or has been in
standing water until it has been completely dried.
-
Be aware that high humidity conditions could
cause corrosion or
component failures in electrical equipment over time.
-
Contact your service representative to have your
machine cleaned and checked prior to use.
Q.
Water got into the darkroom. What could it
impact?
A.
If any unexposed film got wet, do not use it. Film is degraded
by humidity or water. Check
for "surface tackiness" on the film before using it. If film
is "tacky," discard it. Also:
-
Film processor fluids may have been contaminated
(both in replenishment tanks and the processor itself). Contact your processor service representative for assistance.
-
Processor drains (both floor and wall drains)
may have gotten clogged with debris from the flood water.
Clear debris and flush drains to ensure that they are open and
working properly.
Q.
My film doesn't feel "tacky," how can I check
to see if it has been damaged?
A.
A quick test to see if your film and/or your developing chemistry
was impacted during a flood is to develop one sheet of
unexposed film. The film should come out clear (no spots,
black lines, or darkness of any kind). If your sheet of
developed film is not clear, develop a second sheet. If
the second sheet is also not clear there could be a problem with
either your film, your developing chemistry, or both. Do not
use your film or chemistry for clinical imaging until you find and
correct the problem(s).
Q.
What is my responsibility to salvage X-ray film
records?
A.
You should contact your insurance provider and records retention
personnel to discuss salvaging of damaged film records. If you
are unable to salvage film, we suggest that you do your best to
document those records that were damaged and unable to be salvaged.
