Personal dose monitoring requirements in radiology

The only sure way of knowing the radiation dose that staff working with x-rays receive is to measure it directly. Personal dose monitoring is a way of ensuring that staff are not exposed unnecessarily and that radiation protection standards are maintained. Dose limits seldom change as they are based on our understanding of the levels […]The only sure way of knowing the radiation dose that staff working with x-rays receive is to measure it directly. Personal dose monitoring is a way of ensuring that staff are not exposed unnecessarily and that radiation protection standards are maintained. Dose limits seldom change as they are based on our understanding of the levels of radiation hazard. However, there was a major change in the Ionising Radiations Regulations that came into force in 2018, when the dose limit for the lens of the eye was reduced from 150mSv to 20mSv per year. This followed a recommendation by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) based on evidence accumulated on many exposed groups, which showed that cataracts could develop over time following exposures to dose levels that had previously been considered safe. The annual dose limits with which radiology staff must comply are for the eye lens (20mSv), the whole body is in terms of an effective dose (20mSv), and the extremities (500mSv), primarily the hands but also the legs. Healthcare employees who could receive doses approaching three-tenths of the last two limits must be designated as ‘classified’ radiation workers. A different arrangement applies to the lens of the eye where employees who are liable to receive doses of over 15mSv, the dose limit for a member of the public, need to be classified.

The content on this page is provided by the individuals concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.