Radiation safety at irradiation facilities

Abstract. The radiation processing industry has been operating gamma and electron beam irradiators safely for more than 40 years. The annual radiation dose for facility personnel typically does not exceed the natural radiation dose from cosmic and terrestrial radiation. They wear normal, every day clothing and comply with standard health and safety regulations. Still, it is recognized that large quantities of radioactive material or high energy electron or X ray beams pose a potential hazard to workers, the general public and the environment. In order to achieve the necessary high degree of safety and reliability radiation processing facilities and their procedures are designed according to basic safety principles. They are operated in accordance with international, national and regional standards and regulations. 1