H.G. WORETA, E. MENGISTU, B.S. GOSHU^#

Department of Physics, Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia

Ionizing radiation has enough energy to damage DNA and increase human risk of developing cancer. Radiation protection must be assured to all the people of the hospital, from the employing authority to the workers carrying out radiological procedures. This work aims to evaluate the radiation safety in diagnostic procedures using X-ray, in Mekelle city, in the case of governmental and non-governmental hospitals. All the data are collected by observation and interviewing the staff members of each facility, measuring the dose rate at the controlled and supervised areas, the outputs and leakage of the X-ray machines. The collected data are evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. The result shows that 25.9 % of the radiation workers are females, and 74.1 % of them are males. As concerns the educational background, 37 % of the workers are bachelor degree holders, and 63 % are possessors of university diplomas. Thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) produce a file on the procedures being practiced for the assessment of personal doses. A need for such a file has also been touched to ensure the uniformity in processing of dosimeters, recording and reporting of doses by different TLD. It was noticed that there is a problem in using the existing protective devices during the radiotherapy practice. To improve the radiation safety procedure, the lifetime of the X-ray machine has to be limited. Also, it is necessary to adjust the maintenance and service shop to control the X-ray machine. At the same time, the radiation workers must permanently update their knowledge and skills.

Key words: X-ray, radiation, safety, radiological procedures, hospitals, clinics, TLD

Corresponding author’s e-mail: belaysitotaw@gmail.com