CATEGORY 112 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST P: +61 2 8921 0048 E: service@gammatech.com.au W: www.gammatech.com.au RADIATION SAFETY By Makenzie Harris You’ve just purchased a new x-ray unit. The installation team is booked, and the room has been assessed for shielding requirements with a shielding plan completed where needed, barrier tags added, and shielding installed accordingly and your Consulting Radiation Expert is lined up to complete the post-installation compliance testing of the apparatus. Your radiation compliance checklist is almost completeeverything is on track, until you reach the next task: registering your new x-ray apparatus. And that’s when the question hits: “How do I actually register my x-ray unit?” It’s a question we hear all the time. In New South Wales, every x-ray apparatus must be listed on the practice’s Radiation Management Licence (aka your “RML”). This step isn’t just an administrative box to tickit’s a cornerstone of radiation safety, ensuring transparency and accountability across the industry. Let’s take a closer look at why registering your x-ray equipment matters, and how to complete this compliance step with ease. Why you’re required to register your x-ray equipment By holding an RML, you’re declaring to the EPA that your practice owns and operates radiographic equipmentand as the governing body in NSW, they need to know exactly which machines are in your practice. That’s why every single piece of x-ray equipment intraoral units (wall-mounted and portable), OPGs, and CBCTs must be registered on your RML. This is to ensure: X Every x-ray unit is traceable. If there are ever safety concerns, regulators know exactly where each unit is in use. They can track and monitor your machines effectively. X Practices remain accountable. Registration ensures there’s a record of who is responsible for each x-ray unit’s safe operation, maintenance, and compliance certification. X Radiation safety is upheld. With equipment being registered and linked to compliance certificates, regulators can verify that only safe, certified machines are being used on patients. How to register your x-ray equipment on your Radiation Management Licence (NSW) What you’ll need for registration To list your x-ray equipment on your RML, you’ll need specific details from the machine itself. These can be found on stickers located on the tubehead and main control console. You’ll need to record the manufacturer, model, and serial number for the console/generator, the x-ray housing, and the x-ray tube. Tip: When purchasing new equipment, ask your supplier for these details upfront they usually have them on file from the manufacturer, for their own tracking purposes. Alternatively, you can contact our team at Gamma Tech, we’re always happy to help. How to register your x-ray equipment in the EPA eConnect portal All apparatus registrations are completed through the EPA’s eConnect portal, your one-stop-shop for radiation licensing in New South Wales. Follow these steps: 1. Log into the EPA eConnect portal using your licence holder credentials. 2. Locate your RML under your account. 3. Select ‘Vary’ and add equipment details. 4. Purpose: select Dental Diagnostic. 5. Equipment: Select the option that applies to your x-ray unit Intraoral x-ray → Dental Radiography OPG → Panoramic Radiography CBCT → Computed Tomography 6. Enter the apparatus details (manufacturer details, model numbers, serial numbers). 7. Add the work area where the unit is located (e.g., “Surgery 1”, “CBCT Room”, or “portable device”). 8. Submit your application for a variation. Once processed, the EPA will list the apparatus on your RML and assign a unique Radiation Regulated Material ID Number (RRM number). This number stays with the unit for its lifespaneven if it’s sold and transferred to another licenceuntil it is eventually decommissioned and disposed of. A copy of your revised licence will be emailed to you, and you can also download it at any time from your eConnect portal. Note: Your application to add the new x-ray equipment to your RML should be lodged within 7 days of receiving the apparatus. Radiation safety simplified Registering your x-ray equipment might seem like another admin taskbut it’s an essential part of keeping your practice safe, compliant, and audit-ready. At Gamma Tech, our mission is to simplify radiation safety for busy dental professionals like you. If you’d like help navigating the EPA eConnect portal or confirming the right apparatus details to upload, we’re here to make the process clear and stress-free. X
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