Information and communication about occupational exposure in workplace

Abstract

Medical applications of ionizing radiation are essential for protecting and improving human health. The radiological protection objective is to keep doses as low as reasonably achievable, maximizing dose reduction in order to obtain the necessary results for patients in diagnostic and interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. There is plenty of information, published papers and studies about radiological protection for patients, regarding interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, biomedical research, among others. Nevertheless, medical and paramedical personnel themselves are also exposed to radiological risks associated with the various uses of radiation in medicine. This paper discusses some considerations about radiological protection in workplace, as well as the need of more accurate information and communication about occupational exposure and potential exposures in medical practice. We believe that this type of information and communication will be helpful for exposed individuals knowingly while voluntarily helping - other than in their occupation - in the care, support or comfort of patients undergoing medical diagnosis or treatment and for visitors of the patients.