Risk ratios for use in establishing dose limits for occupational exposure to radiation

In order to establish a maximum individual annual dose limit, an investigation of general industrial fatality rates has been made in South Africa in an attempt to identify the extent to which the risk of fatality for a given occupation varies throughout industry. The study appears to indicate that a ratio of 7 is representative of the maximum to average risk of fatal accidents within South African industry. A postulated interpretation of the result is that since persons in a particular occupation move about in industry, apparently accepting the variations in risk of incurring a fatal accident, the occurrence of similar ratios within one industry would presumably also be acceptable. (U.K.)