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Female Workers During and After Pregnancy

For the purposes of occupational radiation protection, there is no reason to make any general distinction between workers on the basis of gender. However, additional protection measures are required to be considered for a female worker during and after pregnancy in order to protect the embryo or fetus or the breastfed infant.

What are the types of work female workers perform?

See relevant part such as: workers in nuclear installations; workers in research and education; workers in NORM industry operations; workers in industrial applications; workers in medical applications; itinerant workers; aircrew and astronauts.

What do I need to know?

Many women who work in industries that make use of ionising radiation wish to do so during their pregnancies or during breastfeeding infants. The GSR Part 3 introduces requirements for special arrangements for protection and saferty for female workers and the GSG-7 provides recommendations. As long as a national occupational radiation protection programme is established in line with the IAEA requirements and followed, the health detriment to the unborn child is minimal. Once the pregnancy has been declared, and the employer notified, additional protection of the unborn child should be considered. The working conditions of a pregnant worker, after the declaration of pregnancy, should be as such to make it unlikely that the additional dose to the unborn child will exceed about 1 mSv during the remainder of pregnancy.

What is possible exposure?

Exposure pathways to the embryo or fetus or the breastfed infant:

  • In utero:
     
    1. External exposures due to sources of radiation external to the body of the female worker that irradiate not only maternal tissues but also the embryo or fetus.
    2. Internal exposures due to the incorporation of radionuclides by the female worker (or are present in maternal hollow organs, such as the urinary bladder or bowel) that transfer to the fetus through the placenta; or exposure of the fetus to penetrating radiation from radionuclides deposited in maternal tissues (or that are present in maternal hollow organs).
       
  • Breastfed infant:
     
    1. External exposures due to penetrating radiation from radionuclides in maternal tissues or present in maternal hollow organs such as the urinary bladder or bowel.
    2. Internal exposures from the intake of radionuclides by the breastfed infant via transfer from maternal tissues to breast milk and subsequent ingestion during breast-feeding.

What are the possible health effects?

When doses to the fetus are kept below that of the member of the public annual limit of 1 mSv during the pregnancy then the risk of health effects is insignificant.

The recommended dose limit applies to the foetal dose and it is not directly comparable to the dose measured on a personal dosimeter. A personal dosimeter worn by a worker may overestimate foetal dose. Foetal doses are not likely to exceed 25 percent of the personal dosimeter measurement.

Who is responsible for your protection and safety?

The person or organization responsible for any facility or activity that gives rise to radiation risks shall have the prime responsibility for protection and safety, which cannot be delegated.

Organisations/employers are responsible for:

  • devising, implementing, and regularly reviewing their Radiation Protection Programmme.
  • regulatory compliance.
  • development a training programme that provides the appropriate level of training and information specific to the worker`s job assignments and also general radiation protection information.
  • induction and ongoing training of workers, including contractors.
  • appropriate dosimetry arrangements.
  • record keeping.

What are the responsibilities of female workers during and after pregnancy?

The first responsibility for the protection of the conceptus lies with the woman herself, who should declare her pregnancy to management as soon as the condition is confirmed.

Workers are responsible for:

  • providing to the employer (and registrant or licensee, where appropriate) information on work history relevant to developing an effective protection and safety programme for the worker (and others).
  • communicating perspectives on job specific radiation risks gained from education and training, and otherwise cooperating with regard to developing and executing an effective protection and safety programme.
  • following radiation protection practices specified in local rules, procedures and in the Radiation Protection Programmme, including the proper use of monitoring and personal protective equipment as described in those rules and procedures.
  • complying with legitimate instructions of the employer or designated Radiation Protection Officer;
  • participation in radiation protection training.
  • reporting to the employer or designated Radiation Protection Officer identified circumstances jeopardizing protection and safety of the worker or others.
  • abstaining from any wilful action that could put the worker or others in situations not in compliance with the requirements for protection and safety.

How do I modify a pregnant worker's duty?

The restriction on dose to the unborn child does not mean that it is necessary for pregnant women to avoid work with radiation or radioactive materials completely, or that they must be prevented from entering or working in designated radiation areas. It does, however, imply that their employer, who is the principal party responsible for protection and safety in relation to occupational exposure, should carefully review the exposure conditions of pregnant women.

When a radiation worker has declared the pregnant, there are three options that are often considered in the workplace:

  • no change in assigned working duties;
  • change to another area where the radiation exposure may be lower;
    or
  • change to a job that has essentially no radiation exposure.

There is no one correct answer for all situations, and in certain jurisdictions there may be specific regulations. It is desirable to have a discussion with the employee. The worker should be informed of the potential risks, local policies, and recommended dose limits.

What are dose limits?

The GSR Part 3 requires annual limits for public and occupational exposure to ionising radiation: 1 mSv for the members of the public and 20 mSv for workers who are occupationally exposed. Despite this, there are different definitions of who is “occupationally exposed” and who should wear personal dosimeters.

For a pregnant radiation worker, the dose to the unborn child is restricted to the same as a member of the public – 1mSv.

If there are indications that the dose to the embryo or fetus or the breastfed infant might approach 1 mSv/a, individual monitoring of the female worker and individual assessment of the committed dose to the embryo or fetus or the breastfed infant should be performed. Dose reports should be available quickly to allow for prompt action to be taken if it is found that the dose to the embryo or fetus or the breastfed infant might exceed 1 mSv/a.

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