Latest data shows occupational radiation exposure well below safety limits

6 November 2025

New annual data from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) confirms Australian workers’ ionising radiation exposure remains well below the exposure limit.  

ARPANSA maintains the Australian National Radiation Dose Register (ANRDR), which contains dose records for approximately 72,000 workers. 

Occupational exposure to radiation is primarily from the uranium and mineral sands industries, as well as from some government organisations, research institutions, dental, veterinary and medical practices. 

The ANRDR monitors occupational radiation exposures nationally to ensure workers in these sectors are receiving below the 20 mSv annual limit.   

ARPANSA’s public and occupational exposures assistant director, Dr Cameron Lawrence, leads the ANRDR.  

He says the latest review analyses dose records from 2015 to 2024.  

‘Our 2023 and 2024 annual reports are almost identical, which shows that ionising radiation exposure in these workplaces is well controlled and remains at safe levels,’ Dr Lawrence said.  

‘In this 2024 report, 80% of workers received a dose less than 1 mSv and 98% received a dose less than 3 mSv. No reported dose exceeded 10 mSv, half the occupational exposure limit. This was the same in 2023. 

‘This data helps us monitor individual doses across careers, even when workers change employers. This means we can make sure that people’s exposure to radiation over their working life is well managed to support long term health and safety.’   

‘As shown in our latest report, current workplace exposures are very low and comparable with the risks of exposure from background and medical radiation exposure.  

‘Background radiation exposure is about 1.7 mSv per year, and a chest CT scan is 5 mSv.’ 

ARPANSA is the regulator of Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation and works with state and territory regulators and industry to protect workers, communities and the environment.