Optimizing radiation worker protection: The practical application of risk analysis

This paper presents the concepts of equivalent risk and risk minimization in optimizing radiation worker protection. When prescribing worker protection requirements and identifying work restrictions, all significant contributions to worker risk should be considered, not just the risk associated with radiation dose. This approach requires a practical application of risk analysis that allows comparison of a variety of risks. Examples of the types of worker risks that must be evaluated are given, and the author proposes that the scientific community develops a methodology for risk comparison that can be implemented via an expert system to facilitate risk analysis and decision making