IMPLEMENTATION OF RADIATION PROTECTION MEASURES FOR WORKERS IN MEDICAL ENVIRONMENTS IN TOGO

The purpose of this study is to assess the implementation of radiation protection measures for workers involved in the use of security control devices emitting ionizing radiation on Togo's official borders.This work is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from July 10 to October 9, 2019, involving all Togolese borders equipped with security control devices emitting ionizing radiation.The following parameters were studied: technical infrastructure, personnel and compliance with radiation protection measures.A total of 43 security control systems were identified: 69.7 % at air borders, 16.3 % at land borders, and 14 % at maritime borders.The systems included 30 baggage scanners, 6 body scanners, and 7 container scanners.Apart from one gamma-emitting container scanner, the other scanners (97.7 %) emitted X-rays.There were 228 workers involved, mostly operators (61.8 %).The devices were located in a closed enclosure in 76.7 % of cases, including 48.5 % in an area of less than 400 m.Pictograms were present in 7 % of the locations, light signals in 88.4 %, and ground markings in 14 %.There were 42 dosimeters, available at the Autonomous harbor of Lom and Lom International Airport.Only 7.5 % of workers had a medical record.Security control devices emitting ionizing radiation at Togo's borders did not always comply with standards, and the compliance with radiation protection measures for workers was unsatisfactory.