RISK PERCEPTION AMONG WORKERS EXPOSED TO IONIZING RADIATION: A QUALITATIVE VIEW

Ionizing Radiation is energy in the form of waves or particles and can be absorbed by occupationally exposed professionals (participants). When there is exposure, diseases may occur as defined by IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans 2000, then, it is necessary to identify hazards, assess risks and find out experiences of use according to the parties involved, available resources and work processes (Dirk et al., 2014). This research aims to analyze the perception of risk compared to the pillars of radiological protection: Justification/Optimization/Limitation and the principles: Distance/Time/Shielding. The study used qualitative methodology under the phenomenological paradigm, which, based on conversational interviews, allowed an approach to the perception of the participants regarding the risk. The data construction was carried out during the years 2019-2020. The interpretative work was carried out by thematizing interviews, being categorized, and schematized for the analysis process (Morse, 2016). Practices in 5 participants with at least 20 years of experience with the use of radiation were explored. Five categories were identified, and it was found that the principle: ALARA (As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable), was recognized based on Distance/Time/Shielding, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency-IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2007) and Bonn call for action (IAEA & WHO, 2012). The Justification associated with the risk/benefit is not isolated from the fear of being wrong, understanding that 30% of the procedures are not justified (IAEA, 2009).