Current Public Health Concerns Related to Japan


The Radiation Program is guided by the following program objectives and strategies:

1. Objective:
   Assure 100% radiation protection for radiation source users and the general public.
2. 
   
Strategies
1. Identify all facilities with radiation sources.
2. Conduct 150 radiological health inspections of healing arts, commercial, educational, and research facilities with radiation sources, annually.
3. Enforce administrative rules on radiation control.
4. Review radiation shielding plans for new and renovated radiation facilities.
5. Respond to complaints filed against radiation facilities and service companies.
6. Implement radiological incident response operations.
7. Identify and determine the hazard potential relative to new radiation-emitting products, devices, and sources of radiation not currently regulated.



An inspector conducts testing of an x-ray machine.




2. Objective:
   Attain a current assessment of radiation exposure.



Strategies
1. Conduct environmental surveillance on air, precipitation, drinking water, and milk.
2. Conduct two exposure studies on specific radiation sources.



3. Objective:
   Assure that only qualified individuals assess and/or work with radiation sources to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure.



Strategies
1. Provide administrative support for the Radiologic Technology Board.
2. Review and approve qualified health/medical physicists for radiation health and safety, and other radiation services.
3. Train and evaluate state radiation program personnel annually on specific radiation source and facility inspections, radiation exposure assessment, radiation protection measures, radiological emergency response, WMD/CBRNE emergency response, and new methodologies.
4. Provide training for users of radiation sources on procedures and safety.



The response team participating in a terrorism training exercise.




4. Objective:
   Attain consistency with national radiation control standards and methodologies.



Strategies
1. Identify and replace outdated standards and methods.
2. Amend Hawaii Revised Statutes, administrative rules, and/or operating procedures.



5. Objective:
   Promote education on radiation control.



Strategies
1. Publish a program newsletter covering the scope of radiation control.
2. Provide information on ionizing and non-ionizing radiation to the general public.





If you have any questions, please contact the:

Radiation Section
591 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-4700
Fax: (808) 586-5838

Jeffrey Eckerd, Acting Program Manager



---





Last update: October 14, 2011
Website maintained by Kristie Kasaoka