SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF RADIATION ON OPERATORS OF MEDICAL DEVICES AND ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE COL-LECTION WORKERS

Konstantinos Ntelezos, Georgia Kyriakopoulou, Marianna Karavasili, Athanasios Marios Giannakas, Panagoula Karagiannh, Michail Georgaras, Konstantina Rodanthi Rodousaki

Friday, January 1, 2021

Publication year:

2021

Authors:

• Ntelezos Konstantinos, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece
• Kyriakopoulou Georgia, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece
• Karavasili Marianna, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece
• Giannakas Athanasios Marios, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece
• Karagiannh Panagoula, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece
• Georgaras Michail, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece
• Rodousaki Konstantina Rodanthi, Health and Safety at Work Laboratory, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Greece

Keywords index:

• ionizing radiation
• radioactive waste
• health occupations
• hospitals
• medical devices

Pages: 84-100

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5512084

Abstract:

Introduction: Healthcare professionals, face various occupational hazards including ionizing radiation, during certain examinations, which can lead to serious health impacts. Purpose: This research estimated the impacts of radiation exposure, in the health of medical devices’ Operators and radioactive waste collection workers, as well as the knowledge of the employees on various legislative and technical fields. Material - Method: The sample consisted of 120 participants, who were chosen through the systematic stratified sampling method. An anonymous questionnaire, consisted of 60 questions was given to the participants. Results: The majority of the sample (92.5% N=111), was trained in the operation of the medical equipment, while many (52.5% N=63) were also aware of the legislation on radioactive waste management. However, a high percentage (90.8% N=109), still believes that there is a need to learn more about health and safety in the field of radiation. Thyroid cancer, is considered the most common form of cancer, among the radiological machine Operators (44.4% N=68). There’s a statistical significance found, between the development of a disease and the availability of protection means (p=0.012), as well as between the participants’ knowledge on legislation and the necessary checks performed on the medical equipment (p=0.05). Conclusions: Although employees have the necessary knowledge to manage radiation at the workplace, they are willing to learn more. Finally, most of the workers knew about the use of protection means and had neither a work accident, nor a health problem during their work.