STATUS STUDY OF PROFESSIONAL PROTECTION FROM IONIZING RADIATION HAZARDS AMONG RADIATION WORKERS IN DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENTS AT BENGHAZI HOSPITALS-LIBYA

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Radiation is the emission of energy in the form of particles and electromagnetic waves. So all forms of ionizing radiation are dangerous factors that produce some kind of irreversible physical and genetic effects. Therefore, awareness and application of special guidance to protect against ionizing radiation exposure plays an important role in the health of workers in diagnostic radiology departments by applying the basic rules of radiation protection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the status of the workers in the diagnostic radiology departments in relation to the occupational radiation protection of the ionizing radiation hazards in the Benghazi hospitals – Libya. Consequently, the questionnaire was distributed to the staff of radiology departments (Radiographer only) in four hospitals in Benghazi city. The study sample included 61 workers selected randomly from 109 workers in radiology departments. The data was collected and analyzed by SPSS program. The results of the demographic variables of the research sample indicated that the average age of the sample was 35.2 years and the majority holding diploma certificate (77.4%). However, primitive and periodic medical examinations were not conducted regularly despite their importance. The vast majority was not equipped with radiation exposure devices, working hours exceeded 40 hours a week. Non-calibration of equipment and conducting radiation survey of the workplace for absence of radiation protection employee in the four hospitals selected in this research The results of the study show that most workers (radiographers) in the diagnostic radiology departments in the four visited hospitals did not have sufficient awareness and knowledge about the international recommendations for radiation protection. Furthermore, the lack of primitive and periodic examinations and the reason for the failure to these tests are due to the lack of equipment for measuring the amount of radiation exposure doses, non-limitation of working hours and the absence of compulsory breaks, besides the absence of a responsible employee for radiation protection, which can regulate all the above works.