MRI safety

This page provides advice on practicing MRI safely, including the procedure, equipment and patient safety

In this section
In This Section

    The use of MRI poses significant safety considerations for patients and staff and requires those working in MRI to have knowledge and understanding relating to the risks posed by static magnetic fields, time varying electromagnetic fields and biological effects.  

    Published guidance

    Our publication Safety in Magnetic Resonance Imaging sets out the required knowledge for the radiographic workforce in MRI. It also acts as a practical guidance document for MRI services. 

    The recognised guidance and framework for the safe use of MRI in the UK is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Safety Guidelines for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment in Clinical Use

    Find all our published guidance related to MRI

    MRI Safety Week

    Each year in the last week of July MRI safety is highlighted by the MR community. The date reflects the anniversary of the death of a young patient due to an MR unsafe oxygen cylinder being taken into the MR environment.

    In 2025, the MR Advisory Group organised a competition in which SoR members were invited to design a poster to promote aspects of MRI safety, such as patient preparation, staff awareness, or best practices for referrers.

    Download the MRI Safety Competition Posters 2025.

    Find all our posters available for download.

    Information for referrers

    Key information that the MRI department will need to be made aware of when you refer a patient for a scan.
    Download now

    Information for ward staff

    Essential information for ward staff relating to patient preparation, the safety screening questionnaire, and patient escorts.
    Download now

    Information for patients

    Key information that can be useful to patients who are preparing for a scan.
    Download now

    CEMFAW regulations 2016

    There are also regulations relating to worker exposure to Electro Magnetic Fields that services and service managers need to be aware of these are known as the CEMFAW regulations which came into effect in the UK in 2016. They are overseen by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland  

    More information can be found here.

    External resources

    MR Safety Advice Sheets

    Each year the BIR MR Safety Group produce MR Safety Advice Sheets , these are published during MR Safety Week covering a range of topics including Gadolinium, incident reporting, SAR, Acoustic noise and many more.

    The advice sheets are a useful educational resource for departments and can be downloaded from the BIR website

     

     

    Heading Risk Assessment Templates 

    The BIR MR safety group (in which the SoR is a member) have developed a series of risk assessment templates for MRI departments to use. Please feel free to download and make use of them across your deparment.

    Available to download here
     

    Essential Guidelines

    Useful Publications

    1.  International committee on Non-ionising radiation protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines for the protection of workers moving in or exposed to static magnetic fields. 2014.
    2. ICNIRP Guidelines on exposure to static magnetic fields. 2009
    3. ICNIRP Statement on medical magnetic resonance (MR) procedures: protection of patients. 2004.
    4. ICNIRP 2009 Amendment to the Statement on medical magnetic resonance (MR) procedures: protection of patients (2004).
    5.  British Standard EN I Particular Requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of magnetic resonance equipment for medical diagnosis

    Posters

    Helpful websites

    Visit another MRI section via one of the option                 s below: 

    Allied-health-professionals-(1).jpgProfessional practice in MRI

    SoR-x-University-of-Brighton-image-of-lecture-(1).jpgMRI training and edu           cation

    MRI Advisory Group

    MRI Homepage

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