OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biosafety aspects and the working conditions of radiology department professionals and to make recommendations with respect to necessary modifications to be implemented in these departments in order to comply with national regulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interviews with the professionals were carried out as well as observation of their activities in the working premises including processing of radiographic films inside the dark rooms, average time inside the dark rooms, preparation of chemical solutions for automatic processors and the type of help given to patients during radiographic examinations. The efficiency of the exhausting systems in the dark rooms was also measured. The ergonomic adequacy of the accessories inside the dark rooms was analyzed. With respect to electrical safety, the location and number of fire extinguishers as well as the grounding of the electrical equipment was evaluated to check if they were in accordance with the Brazilian legislation. RESULTS: The exhaustion systems were insufficient, professionals did not wear protective clothes/devices when preparing the chemical solutions, the ergonomic aspects were not in accordance with national recommendations, and the workers presented related stress. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, risk maps were drawn for each sector of the radiology department to be used in the implementation of improvements in each sector.
Ergonomics; Biosafety; Map risks; Stress; Protective devices