New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has been conducting regulatory inspections in radiology departments of hospitals and universities to safeguard against radioactive exposure, Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan said here Thursday.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the minister said last year, the board conducted inspections in 177 licensed facilities, including 46 diagnostic X-ray centers, 11 radiotherapy units and 41 nuclear medicine facilities.
Chavan said the board conducts inspections of radiology departments of hospitals, universities or institutions registered.
The minister also said that AERB takes many steps to ensure regulatory compliance by the facilities, which are permitted to use radioactive material.
The measures includes surprise inspections, review of the periodic safety status, investigations of any unusual occurrences and exposures, safety performance appraisals of the facility and also motivating the personnel of the facility for improving the radiation protection safety culture by way of awareness programmes.
In April this year, a man died due to exposure to radioactive material in the scrap market of Mayapuri in west Delhi, while many others were hospitalised. The radioactive material was sourced from Delhi University, which later paid compensation to the victims and promised for stricter and better ways to deal with the radioactive waste.
