Radiation safety management for diagnostic radiation generators and employees in animal hospitals in Korea.
- Author:
Hyo Jin AN
1
;
Chung Hyun KIM
;
Young Jin KWON
;
Don Hwan KIM
;
Sung Hwan WEE
;
Jin San MOON
Author Information
1. Veterinary Pharmaceutical Management Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Anyang 430-757, Korea. moonjs727@korea.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
animal hospital;
diagnostic radiation generator;
radiation related workers;
radiation safety management
- MeSH:
Administrative Personnel;
Animals;
Hospitals, Animal*;
Humans;
Korea;
Safety Management*;
Veterinarians
- From:Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
2014;54(3):151-157
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A nationwide survey on radiation safety management in Korean animal hospitals was conducted. By 2013, 53 radiation generators were registered as veterinary medical devices (41 X-ray generators and 12 computed tomography scanners). Additionally there were six approved laboratories for radiation equipment and protection facility, and five approved laboratories for radiation exposure of employees, respectively. By March 2013, 2,030 out of 3,829 animal hospitals operated radiation-generating devices. Among these devices, 389 (19.2%) out of 2,030 were not labeled with the model name and 746 (36.7%) were not labeled with production dates. Thus, most veterinary X-ray generators were outdated (42.6%) and needed replacements. When periodic inspections of 2,018 animal hospitals were performed after revision of the Veterinarians Act in 2011, the hospitals were found to be equipped with appropriate radiation generators and protection facilities. Among 2,545 employees exposed to radiation at the hospitals, 93.9% were veterinarians, 4.3% were animal nurse technicians, and 18% held other positions. Among 169 employees supervised by administrators, none of those had a weekly maximum operating load that exceeded 10 mA.min. This study suggests that the radiation safety management system of animal hospitals was general good.
