Effective presentation of radiation safety training--risk communication: an important function of radiation safety...

Implementing an effective radiation safety program requires good communication with workers. The process begins with radiation safety. Before workers take a position involving radiation exposures, they should understand the possible health risks and what to do to keep their risks ALARA. The goal is for workers to achieve a balanced perspective on radiation health risks in order to avoid either undue fear or undue complacency about radiation. Workers should have enough understanding of radiation risks to decide to acceptor not accept-or not accept the risk of radiation as a condition of employment. Furthermore, the decision to accept radiation risk for the benefits of employment should be based on informed consent. Workers with a good understanding of radiation health risks will strive to minimize not only their own radiation exposure but also those of their work group. Normally radiation safety training to achieve worker understanding is focused primarily on the technology of radiation. However, understanding is more than a matter of good technical information. What one chooses to understand is also impacted by perceptions of radiation risks.