Radiation safety instruction for non-radiation workers

In today's society, neglecting to provide adequate hazard-awareness instruction to workers can be successfully used to file suit against institutions where radioactive material (RAM) or radiation generating devices (RGDs) are used. Because of the lack of instruction, in some cases, just the perceived risk (even where no significant exposure to radiation existed) has proven to be more important than the actual risk. Groups of non-radiation workers such as custodian, maintenance and laboratory personnel, whose duties may require them to work in the vicinity of RAM and RGDs, sometimes do not receive proper hazard-awareness instruction. Misinterpretation of the applicable hazard-awareness regulations is a reason why institutions sometimes fail to instruct their workers. The objectives of this paper are to help radiation safety program managers become more aware of the importance of having well-instructed non-radiological personnel and to develop and provide basic information to help implement an effective hazard-awareness instruction program for workers. Topics discussed in this paper include regulatory aspects regarding the instruction to non-radiation workers, a list of radiological incidents that could have been prevented with proper instruction to workers and recommendations for the development and implementation of an effective instruction program.