A review of occupational exposure in the North-Western Region

The Ionizing Radiations Regulations 1985 require employers to monitor all classified persons and to demonstrate that all non-classified persons who work in controlled areas do not exceed three-tenths (i.e. the classification level) of any relevant annual dose limit. A review of occupational doses was undertaken to ascertain whether any person needed to be designated as a classified person and to demonstrate compliance with the Regulation regarding non-classified staff working in controlled areas. The occupational-dose data for 1986 were compared with data for 1981 to identify any areas where changes in workload, equipment or techniques had led to increases in whole-body or organ doses. The results demonstrate that the level of whole-body occupational dose received by the vast majority of NHS employees in the North-Western Regional Health Authority is, as expected, extremely low. However, two specific areas were identified where occupational doses are relatively high and need to be carefully monitored. The review has also led to a number of operational changes being implemented by the Approved Dosimetry Service.