Lessons learned from incidents – OTHEA database

OTHEA incidents are provided by a network of radiation protection stakeholders who have a joint interest in sharing feedback and experience from radiological incidents, in order to improve the protection of persons working with similar radiation sources. More generally, the aim is to encourage good practice within different sectors – sections are devoted to the industrial, medical and veterinary, research and teatching, transportation etc. sectors, and encompass many sub-sections. We urge our readers to participate to the OTHEA/RELIR database if they have the opportunity. 

The reporting of incidents is made anonymously trough a dedicated questionnaire. Incident displayed have been selected on the basis of those which provide interesting and useful lessons, to help others prevent such incidents and/or mitigate the consequences.

To help to naviguate, the incidents are divided into several categories:

	Industrial Sealed sources Non Destructive Testing Gauges Safety and security inspections Electron beams Unsealed sources Well-logging
	Medical and Veterinary Radiology Radiotherapy Nuclear Medicine Brachytherapy Dental Veterinary Waste collection, disposal centre and incinerator Lost of orphan sources [medical] Research laboratories
	Research and testing X-ray analytical equipment Education Research
	Transportation of radioactive material
	Others Emergency services X-ray inspections machines Lost of orphan sources [non-medical]