A comparative study of radiation safety practices at selected hospitals in the UK and USA.
The radiation safety practices in a group of 25 UK and USA hospitals have recently been assessed. This took the form of detailed inspections of some 62 medical radiation departments, including Diagnostic X-ray, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine and Pathology/Research (Radionuclide) Departments. Empirical expressions called "Radiation Safety Indices" were devised to evaluate the incidence of personal doses and radiological incidents occurring from 1977-82 and to characterise the safety facilities, procedures, supervision and educational techniques in each department. An outline is given of national legislative material and voluntary codes of conduct, together with the results of the departmental inspections. The computed indices are presented graphically and an analysis given of apparent national trends.
D000056:Accident Prevention; D004493:Education; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000592:standards*; D009684:Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011482:Protective Devices; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000592:standards; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D012449:Safety; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States