Survey of workers monitoring dosimetry of the departments of radiology in the city of Ouagadougou

Introduction: Use of ionizing radiations (IR) for medical aims constitutes an important source of exposition for individuals. In Burkina Faso, a study accomplished in 2006 in the radiology departments over the 12 catchment areas estimated that 157 workers were likely to be exposed to IR. Dosimetry individual surveillance is one of the essential links of the implement of radioprotection of the workers exposed to IR. In Burkina Faso, complete texts remain to be worked out, and the organization of the monitoring of the workers includes numerous lacunas. Objective: To assess monitoring dosimetry of the workers in the departments of radiology of the city of Ouagadougou. Methodology: Long-term descriptive and analytical survey (from November 11th, 2010 to June 11th, 2011), covering departments of radiology in the city of Ouagadougou, with workers monitoring dosimetry. Results: Eighty percent of establishments had followed their employees by laboratoire national de santé publique du Burkina Faso (LNSP) and 20% by dosimetry laboratory of institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN). Among 15 compliant establishments, three establishments changed laboratory of dosimetry. Of the DATR, 47.06% practiced at the same time in several departments of radiology but only 28.13% of these workers benefited from a continuous monitoring dosimetry from an establishment to other one. Conclusion: Passive dosimetry surveillance of the workers of the departments of radiology in the city of Ouagadougou is ineffective. Among 24 departments of radiology, only 15 establishments completed a systematic monitoring. © 2012.