Many provinces do not report radiation safety

Nearly 30% of the total 1,577 establishments inspected nationwide violate the regulations on annual reporting on the status of radiation safety with the management agency. In particular, many localities such as Bac Can, Lai Chau, Tra Vinh, and Ha Noi violate this amount of approximately 100%.

>>>Warning of risks from X-rays, magnetic resonance

If exposed to high doses of radiation from the radiation source for a short time, it will affect the vascular system, digestive system, central nervous system. (Photo: TL)
This information was given at the conference on reviewing the topic of radiation and nuclear safety in 2010 after 2 months of focusing on implementing radiation inspection in 63 provinces and cities, organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology on October 29 At Hanoi.

More than 1 billion fined 195 establishments

Mr. Tran Minh Dung (Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Science and Technology) said that the total number of facilities inspected for radiation safety nationwide is 1,577, of which 1,370 establishments use X-ray equipment in diagnosis and treatment. disease (86.8%), 207 establishments using radioactive sources, radiation equipment in production, business, research and training (accounting for 13.2%). There are 10 inspecting provinces with more than 40 facilities: Hanoi (80 establishments), Dong Nai (67 establishments), Thanh Hoa (58 establishments), Binh Duong (54 establishments), Nghe An (50 establishments) , Phu Tho (49 establishments), Hai Phong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Lam Dong.

The inspection team sanctioned 195 administrative violations with a total amount of VND 1,249,500,000. Specifically, 11.7% of establishments violated regulations on declaration and licensing; 8.3% of the reasons for violating regulations on radiation dose control; 13.3% of establishments violate regulations on personal dosemeters; 10.2% of violations of inspection and calibration. In particular, 19.6% of violators violate radiation certificates and 27.6% do not report annually on the status of radiation safety to state management agencies on radiation safety.

Equipment put into use has not been checked

Mr. Dung said, in fact, there are many cases of radiation workers (operating X-ray machines) at the same time working for many facilities but there is no provision for this person in equipping dosimeters, reading doses and assess radiation dose. There is also no document specifying the specific handling of radiation tablets without wearing personal dosemeters when working.

Some facilities receive radiation equipment but do not declare or apply for a license, so when put into use, management agencies do not know. The above situation is due to the combination of information on imports and equipment between the health, customs and science and technology sectors, and Mr. Dung explained.

In particular, there are establishments that use medical diagnostic X-ray equipment for many years without a license to conduct radiation work due to difficulties in checking machine quality to carry out procedures for granting (inspection price). High machine, service unit to check the quality of the meager machine due to the remote and difficult to travel).

A representative of the Department of Radiation and Safety proposed that the Ministry of Science and Technology should soon issue a process of measuring and checking the radiation to agree when the inspection team conducted the actual measurement in the shooting room as well as at the place where the radioactive source was located to have the measured results legal, to handle the settlement of complaints and denunciations. In addition, additional checklist in inspecting mineral mining facilities containing radioactive substances, regulations on health examination for radiation workers .