Medical surveillance

Medical surveillance of radiation workers aims to ensure that the workers are fit for radiation work and that their physical condition does not prevent radiation work. STUK must verify the competence of physicians responsible for the medical surveillance of category A workers.

Who requires medical surveillance?

Before starting work, a category A worker must undergo an initial examination for determining that he or she is fit for the work. In addition, annual monitoring of the worker’s physical condition must be arranged. A worker must not be classified to the radiation work category A or kept in such a position if his or her physical condition prevents it.

Category B workers must undergo an initial examination, but regular monitoring of physical condition is not required for the purposes of radiation protection. It is recommended to perform the initial examination before starting the work. However, it must be performed within one month after starting work.  

More information on arranging medical surveillance is presented in Guide ST 7.5. More information on the radiation work categories is presented in Guide ST 1.6.

Which information must the responsible party report to the physician?

The responsible party must notify the worker’s intended radiation work category to the physician responsible for medical surveillance. Furthermore, the physician must receive sufficient information on the worker’s duties, working conditions and factors affecting radiation exposure that enables the physician to decide on the worker’s fitness for work and medical surveillance.

The responsible party must notify the physician responsible for medical surveillance without delay of any observations and abnormal incidents that are significant in terms of the worker’s radiation exposure.

Physician responsible for medical surveillance and related qualification

STUK must verify the competence of physicians responsible for the medical surveillance of category A workers. The qualification requirements are presented in Guide ST 7.5. There are no separate qualification requirements for a physician who performs the physical examination of a category B worker.

For the verification of competence, the physician submits to STUK a written application. Once the physician meets the requirements, STUK will issue a certificate of his or her qualification to serve as a physician responsible for medical surveillance.

STUK maintains a record of physicians responsible for medical surveillance. A list of names and offices of the responsible physicians can be requested from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, department of Radiation Practices Regulation