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Workers in Research and Training
What do I need to know?
Workers in research and training can be involved with numerous radiation hazards ranging from sealed sources, unsealed sources, to working on research reactors. The IAEA provides an Information System on Occupational Exposure in Medicine, Industry, and Research (ISEMIR) which aims to help collect information regarding optimization of occupational radiation protection such as operational experience, dose assessment, and industrial processes. ISEMIR has specific data collection for Interventional Cardiology and Industrial Radiography (ISEMIR-IC & ISEMIR-IR) which can be of use to workers in research and training.
What are the possible exposure pathways?
For workers in research and training, the possible exposures are defined by the types of sources being worked with and what environment one may be doing training in. Receiving training on handling sealed sources will provide a different form of exposure compared to performing work on a research reactor. It is important to communicate with your employer to understand what types of exposure you may be occupationally exposed to.
Employer responsibilities relevant to research and training
In accordance with GSR Part 3 Requirement 26’s “Employers, registrants and licensees shall provide workers with adequate information, instruction and training for protection and safety.” It is important to understand that employers “…in cooperation with registrants and licensees:
(a) Shall provide all workers with adequate information on health risks due to their occupational exposure in normal operation, anticipated operational occurrences and accident conditions, adequate instruction and training and periodic retraining in protection and safety, and adequate information on the significance of their actions for protection and safety.
(b) Shall provide those workers who could be involved in or affected by the response to an emergency with appropriate information, and adequate instruction and training and periodic retraining, for protection and safety.
(c) Shall maintain records of the training provided to individual workers.” – GSR Part 3 Paragraph 3.110.
Special arrangements for protection and safety for pregnant workers and for persons under 18 years of age undergoing training
According to GSR Part 3 Requirement 28, “Employers, registrants and licensees shall make special arrangements for female workers, as necessary, for protection of the embryo or fetus and breastfed infants. Employers, registrants and licensees shall make special arrangements for protection and safety for persons under 18 years of age who are undergoing training.”
It is important for employers, in cooperation with registrants and licensees, to provide female workers who are liable to enter controlled areas or supervised areas or who may undertake emergency duties with appropriate information on:
- The risk to the embryo or fetus due to exposure of a pregnant woman.
- The importance for a female worker of notifying her employer as soon as possible if she suspects that she is pregnant1/ or if she is breast-feeding.
- The risk of health effects for a breastfed infant due to ingestion of radioactive substances.
Additionally, employers should ensure that no person under age 16 is or could be subject to occupational exposure, and shall ensure that persons under the age of 18 years are allowed access to a controlled area only under supervision and only for the purpose of training for employment in which they are or could be subject to occupational exposure or for the purpose of studies in which sources are used.
Specialised Dose Limits
Dose limits for pregnant workers and persons under age 18 is set at <1mSv per year.
References
- Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards, IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3, IAEA, Vienna (2014)
- Occupational Radiation Protection, IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSG-7, IAEA, Vienna (2018)
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1/ Notification of an employer of a suspected pregnancy or of breast-feeding cannot be made a requirement on a female worker in these Standards. However, it is necessary that all female workers understand the importance of making such notifications so that their working conditions may be modified accordingly.