Introduction: In order to keep the worker's dose as low as possible, we try to achieve this through time, distance and the use of protective equipment. Personal protective equipment serves to attenuate ionizing radiation and thus protects the worker from an additional dose of radiation. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate whether radiological engineers use lead or non-lead protection during their work, how they handle it, whether they perform quality control of lead protection and how it is done. Methods: We used a descriptive method, where we reviewed the existing domestic and foreign professional and scientific literature on the topic. In a quantitative method of data collection, we used a survey questionnaire as a measuring instrument in which we asked about the use of lead and non-lead protection, storage and cleaning of protection and quality control of lead protection. Results: The results showed that 62 % radiological engineers always protect themselves in their work with personal protective equipment, but most often they use lead protection, namely protective coats and protection for the thyroid gland. Approximately, half believe that non-lead protection is as effective as lead, and the rest that it is not or they don't know. In the workplace, almost everyone has a certain space for storing protection, most often these are hangers and racks. 37% of radiological engineers often clean personal protective equipment and 4% never clean it. Quality control is performed in 63%, in most cases it is the responsibility of the person in charge. The most commonly used method is X-ray and visual inspection, it is performed in most cases once a year. At work, 42% do not have a specific protocol for quality control, 28% have, and the rest are not aware of it or they don't know. In most cases, injuries have already occurred during radiological engineers work, most commonly identified using X-ray imaging or visual inspection. When an injury occurred, in 73% the change was always made. Most radiological engineers share personal protective equipment with their colleagues. Discussion and conclusion: Most radiological engineers use lead personal protective equipment in their work. Users of non-lead protection most often do not know what material it is made of, but they believe that it is just as effective as lead. Quality control is most often checked by X-ray, once a year, which is also recommended by the literature. It would make sense to conduct research on a larger sample of radiological engineers, which would enable better generalization for most radiological engineers in Slovenia.
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