Monitoring and Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards in Physiotherapy

[Objective] To examine occupational hazardous agents and their intensity presented in physiotherapy and discuss feasible control measures. [Methods] A survey was conducted to determine the exposures of medical personnel to occupational hazardous agents in a medical facility. [Results] Ultra high frequency radiation, high frequency electromagnetic field and microwave radiation were recognized as major occupational hazards in physiotherapy. In the ultra-short wave therapeutic room, the electrical-field intensity of ultra high frequency radiation in both office region and treatment region was higher than the national occupational exposure limit. The electrical-field intensities detected on the body regions of head, chest and abdomen of medical personnel were 61.4-88.8 V/m, which were 3 times higher than the national occupational exposure limit. The electrical-field intensity on examinant head region was the highest in the three regions. In the high frequency treatment area, the electrical-field intensity on the body regions of head, chest and abdomen of medical personnel were 32.3-44.2 V/m, which were exceeded the national hygienic standard. The microwave radiation intensity in the microwave therapeutic room met the national hygienic standard. [Conclusion] In order to control occupational exposure level to electromagnetic radiations, occupational protective measures such as increasing distance of between office region and treatment region, wearing electromagnetic shields to radiation sources, equipting shielding curtain between office regions and treatment regions, as well as providing personal protective equipments should be considered in the department of physiotherapy.