The hierarchy of hazard controls in MR safety practice

Motivation: MR safety guidance formulated by experts from the MR community build upon a combination of experience and technical expertise. MR safety guidance may benefit from assessment based on general workplace safety practices. Goal(s): To critically assess MR safety guidance and practices using the hierarchy of hazard controls. Approach: MR safety practices were scored using a 5-point scale derived from the hierarchy of hazard controls, in several areas of risk for MR personnel, patients, and non-MR personnel. Results: Hazard controls for non-MR personnel had consistently high effectiveness scores, while those for for MR personnel and patients had moderate effectiveness scores, with a greater range. Impact: The analysis presented in this work could serve as a tool to analyse choices made in the deployment of safety measures, to motivate decision- or policy-making, or as a tool for assessment of MR safety programs.