Exposure to radiation at the workplace-managing radiation risks

Exposure to ionizing radiation occurs in many occupations. Workers can be occupationally exposed to artificial sources of radiation commonly used in the manufacturing and service industries, defence industries, nuclear industry, research institutions, and universities. Radiation is extensively used by health professionals in diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Workers may also be exposed to natural sources of radiation such as miners exposed to radon and aircrew members exposed to cosmic radiation while flying. Recommendations and regulations on radiation protection of workers were first developed at the beginning of the 20th century. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) founded in 1928 addressed its first recommendations to the radiological protection of health workers. The ICRP has established a system of radiological protection based on three fundamental principles: justification, optimization and dose limitation. The main objective to ensure that no practice is adopted unless it produces a net positive benefit, that all the necessary exposures are kept as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA) , taking economic and social factors into account, and that the doses received by individuals do not exceed certain established limits.The annual dose limit for occupational exposure to radiation is 20 mSv/year averaged in a 5-year period (not exceeding 50 mSv in any single year). Dose limits for workers ensures protection against intolerable exposures, but they should be applied in conjunction with the principle of optimization to reduce both the exposure levels and the number of workers exposed to the lowest value that is reasonably achievable. Average doses for most types of occupational exposures from artificial sources including the nuclear industry are now below 2 mSv per year. This presentation reviews global occupational exposures trends and issues, and their implications for the compliance at the facility with the safety standards in different scenarios.