Whole body occupational exposure in industrial radiography in Cameroon (2012–2022)

Abstract

Whole body doses records of industrial radiography workers in Cameroon were analyzed in this study. Average annual effective dose and collective effective dose were estimated from dose records of 2012 to 2022. The average annual effective dose for monitored workers in the periods 2012–2022 and 2020–2022 were respectively equal to 1.28 mSv and 0.41mSv, and the average annual effective dose for measurably exposed workers in the periods 2012–2022 and 2020–2022 were respectively equal to 1.61 mSv and 0.66 mSv. The average annual effective dose for monitored workers in the period 2020–2022 is lower than the global value of 1.10 reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR 2020/2021 Report). The highest collective effective doses were obtained in 2013 and 2014 and were equal to 0.131 man.Sv and 0.126 man.Sv respectively. Many cases of high exposures and one case of effective dose limit exceeded were recorded during the period 2012–2022. Investigations carried out showed that high exposures were mainly caused by high workloads, working in elevated levels, failure to follow operational procedures, equipment malfunction or defect.