User guide

Chapter 7: Safety 95
Safety
Chapter 7: Safety
This chapter contains ergonomic, electrical, and clinical safety information required by regulatory
agencies. The information applies to the ultrasound system, transducer, accessories, and
peripherals. This chapter also defines labeling symbols, specifications, and standards.
For safety information regarding the ALARA principle and acoustic output, see Chapter 8,
“Acoustic Output.”
Ergonomic safety
These healthy scanning guidelines are intended to assist you in the comfort and effective use of
your ultrasound system.
WARNING:
To prevent musculoskeletal disorders, follow the guidelines in this section.
Use of an ultrasound system may be linked to musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs)
a,b,c
.
Use of an ultrasound system is defined as the physical interaction between the
operator, the ultrasound system, and the transducer.
When using an ultrasound system, as with many similar physical activities, you
may experience occasional discomfort in your hands, fingers, arms, shoulders,
eyes, back, or other parts of your body. However, if you experience symptoms
such as constant or recurring discomfort, pain, throbbing, aching, tingling,
numbness, burning sensation, or stiffness, do not ignore these warning signs.
Promptly see a qualified health professional. Symptoms such as these can be
linked with MSDs. MSDs can be painful and may result in potentially disabling
injuries to the nerves, muscles, tendons, or other parts of the body. Examples of
MSDs include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
While researchers are not able to definitively answer many questions about MSDs,
there is a general agreement that certain factors are associated with their
occurrence including preexisting medical and physical conditions, overall health,
equipment and body position while doing work, frequency of work, duration of
work, and other physical activities that may facilitate the onset of MSDs
d
. This
chapter provides guidelines that may help you work more comfortably and may
reduce your risk of MSDs
e,f
.
a. Magnavita, N., L. Bevilacqua, P. Mirk, A. Fileni, and N. Castellino. “Work-related Musculoskeletal Complaints in
Sonologists.”
Occupational Environmental Medicine . 41:11 (1999), 981-988.
b. Craig, M. “Sonography: An Occupational Hazard?”
Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 3 (1985), 121-125.
c. Smith, C.S., G.W. Wolf, G. Y. Xie, and M. D. Smith. “Musculoskeletal Pain in Cardiac Ultrasonographers: Results of a
Random Survey.”
Journal of American Society of Echocardiography . (May1997), 357-362.
d. Wihlidal, L.M. and S. Kumar. “An Injury Profile of Practicing Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Alberta.”
International
Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
. 19 (1997), 205-216.