OBJECTIVES: Diagnostic x-ray procedures using contrast imaging agents especially in CT are on the rise. Typically contrast media are available in glass bottles and associated with a number of potential problems including increased risk of injury, costs of waste disposal, lost revenue, and disturbances in department routines. A model was developed to estimate the annual financial and safety impact of switching glass to a polymer container for a typical radiology department. METHODS: The model was developed using results from a multi-European market survey of radiology technologists on rates of technologists' injuries from glass and/or metal crimps and from bottle breaks. Survey results were confirmed by a radiology department head from a UK community hospital. In addition, disposal costs for waste, acquisition cost of contrast media, utilization patterns of media, procedure rates, technologist salaries, and cost of disturbed department routine were incorporated in the final budget comparison. RESULTS: For a typical community hospital in the UK conducting 56 procedures per shift, there is a potential to waste approximately 200 manpower hours for clean-up of glass breaks, injury care, and setting up additional contrast imaging sets. This is associated with annual revenue loss to a department. Budgetary gains are noted in lower disposal costs for polymer bottles as they are lighter in weight. Significantly more disposal costs gains would be noted with the implementation of separating hazardous from regular waste. PLUSPAK, a polymer bottle containing iohexol, a low osmolar contrast medium, has the potential to save a radiology department considerable savings due to cost-offsets associated with lower injury rates, product wastage, disposal waste costs and faster departmental efficiencies. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in radiology technologist safety and departmental efficiencies can be realized with a glass to polymer bottle conversion.