STUK-B-reports

Radiation practices. Annual report 2007. STUK-B 95. Helsinki 2008. 37 pp. + apps. 14 pp.

RANTANEN Erkki (ed.).

ISBN 978-952-478-384-2 (print) Edita Prima Oy, Helsinki/Finland 2008
ISBN 978-952-478-385-9 (pdf)
ISSN 0781-1713

Key words: use of radiation, radiation practices, safety licence, licence-exempt practices, inspections of the use of radiation, radiation sources, radioactive substances, radioactive waste, radiation doses of workers, natural radiation, non-ionizing radiation, measurement standards, regulation work, research, Finnish and international co-operation, information activities, services, abnormal incidents

Abstract

1757 safety licences for the use of radiation were current at the end of 2007. 1850 responsible parties were engaged in notifiable licence-exempt dental X-ray activities. Use of radiation was controlled through regular inspections performed at places of use, test packages sent by post to dental X-ray facilities and maintenance of a Dose Register. Radiation safety guides were also published and research was conducted in support of regulatory control.

STUK conducted 458 inspections of licensed practices and 20 inspections of notifiable licence-exempt dental X-ray practices in 2007. 223 repair orders and recommendations were issued.

A total of just under 11 500 workers were subject to individual monitoring in 2007. More than 140 000 dose entries were made in the Dose Register maintained by STUK.

Regulatory control of natural radiation focused on radon at workplaces and exposure of aircrews to cosmic radiation. 97 workplaces including a total of 138 work areas were subject to radon monitoring during 2007. 3706 pilots and cabin crew members were monitored for exposure to cosmic radiation.

Metrological activities continued with calibration and development work as in previous years.

Regulatory control of the use of non-ionizing radiation in 2007 focused particularly on mobile phones, sunbeds and lasers. 15 mobile phone types were tested in market surveillance of mobile phones. 31 sunbed facilities were inspected.

There were 24 abnormal incidents involving the use of radiation in 2007. Fifteen of these incidents concerned the use of radiation in industry, research or transportation, and the other nine concerned the use of radiation in health care. None of these incidents had serious consequences.