OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE CHARACTERISTICS AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RADIATION DOSES AMONG KOREAN RADIATION WORKERS

Abstract

This study identified occupational factors associated with radiation exposure in Korea. Survey data of 16 037 workers from 2016 to 2017, including lifestyle factors and occupational characteristics, were combined with the National Dose Registry. Higher average annual doses were observed in groups exhibiting health risk factors such as body mass index (BMI) and smoking. Average annual doses also differed according to occupational characteristics, including average daily working hours, use of radiation protection gear, calendar year of hiring and employment status. Moreover, the influence of different factors on radiation dose differed with occupations. In industrial radiography and nuclear power plants, average daily working hours were the most important factor determining worker radiation doses. In other occupations, such as education, industry and research, calendar year of hiring and duration of employment were the most important factors. This research indicates the need to consider the specific work procedures of occupations to determine exposure variations between or within facilities.