Radiation safety in hospital departments
Ahern raised concern that hospital radiography regulations were outdated and existing equipment could not adequately monitor exposure. The Minister shared the concern and pointed to forthcoming safety legislation and interim measures.
I know there has been great concern about safety in recent years, not just in respect of nuclear fallout but also in hospitals. There are regulations governing the radiography departments of hospitals but these regulations are now nearly 30 years old. They were drafted at a time when there was not much equipment in those departments and when there was very little danger. The checking equipment now used on the clothes of radiographers and radiologists cannot monitor or register any damage caused. Nowadays equipment such as gamma counters, nuclear magnetic machines and ultrasound machines are in constant use. The regulations now governing the use of such machines have been in operation for 25 years or 30 years and are no longer effective. No one is quite sure of the risk involved. Radiographers and radiologists probably know more about radiation than anyone in the country and they have expressed concern with regard to this matter. I ask the Minister to examine it because the hospital staffs are in the forefront in respect of radiation danger.
Comment on this
I share the Deputy's concern. There is a great interest and concern among all people, and particularly working people, about their health and their right to know and understand the consequences of working with the processes they use. As I said in reply to Deputy De Rossa, the intent of the proposals of the Barrington Commission — we will be bringing legislation before the House in that regard — will be to recognise that right and to give it positive effect. For that reason, in anticipation of the enactment of the legislation I have proceeded to establish an interim board comprising representatives of the social partners as follows: three representatives from the ICTU, three representatives from the employer organisations and four representatives from four Government Departments, the board to be chaired by an independent chairperson. They have already commenced work on how the proposals may be implemented. All of the complex factors referred to by Deputy Ahern will be accommodated in that framework.