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From the source to the dosimetric impact assessment

Objectives of workplace monitoring


Adequate protection for workers concerning ionizing radiation is essential to the safe use of radiation and radioactive materials. Potentially exposed workers in the various sectors concerned are subject to systematic individual monitoring.

Published on 17 March 2015
French regulations define the basic principles of risk prevention linked to the use of ionizing radiation in the workforce. This includes technical adjustments of work premises, the organization of radiological protection, and the monitoring of workers. The regulations concerning the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation reaffirm the need to establish and validate monitoring programs, by imposing specific workplace studies, an exposure form that describes handling, a definition of zoning, and a precise classification of exposed workers. These requirements allow radiation safety services to implement physical protections, operational exposure detection systems (dosimeters, contaminometers, etc.), individual or collective protection equipment, workplace measurements (smear test, atmosphere, etc.) and monitoring of personnel (urine, faeces, in vivo exams, etc.). The end purpose would be to estimate the dosimetric and health status of all employees.
 

The objectives of medical and occupational monitoring are to:

  • apply monitoring programs based on the analysis of workplace risks.
  • establish a dosimetric assessment of exposures based on monitoring results.
  • evaluate the worker health risk associated with exposure to ionizing radiation.
The worker is systematically informed of his personal data by the occupational physician.