An exploration of radioactive sources security awareness : a case study of five healthcare facilities in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to explore the level of knowledge regarding radioactive source security that is present among security personnel at healthcare facilities located in the province of Gauteng in South Africa. The level of awareness of radioactive source security that was anticipated among security personnel who work at various healthcare facilities was the focus of the study. The 15 participants who took part in the study were all employed in healthcare facilities registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA), worked on the level of Grade B security officers or higher and had previous experience in supervisory roles. A qualitative approach was adopted to research and incorporate case studies to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. Five hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa, were used as case studies. Three security professionals from each hospital made up the unit of analysis in the study. These participants were selected because they were responsible for safety and security at the healthcare facilities. Empirical data were collected through semi-structured interviews that were conducted either in person or over the phone. Data were analysed thematically, and the criteria for assessing the quality of the research were thoroughly addressed. Furthermore, the study adhered to ethical guidelines and was ethically endorsed. The main findings of the study revealed a significant dearth of knowledge regarding radioactive source security among security personnel. While the participants were aware of the radiology departments at their facilities, they were unaware of radioactive source security. Moreover, the research participants were not able to recall whether radioactive sources are mentioned in both disaster management and security policy. The participants were not trained on the subject under study and were unaware of training opportunities, which has significant implications for radioactive source security at the facilities. The aim of the study was achieved, in that the level of awareness of radioactive source security among security personnel at healthcare facilities was determined. Recommendations based on the findings of the study are detailed for healthcare facilities and security professionals. Furthermore, recommendations for future scientific advancement in respect of radioactive source security at healthcare facilities are proposed.

Sepheo sa patlisiso e ne e le ho batlisisa ka boemo ba tsebo eo basebetsi ba tshireletso dibakeng tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo tse porovenseng ya Gauteng Aforika Borwa, ba nang le yona mabapi le mehato e leng teng ya tshireletso ya mohlodi o fanang ka eneji. Boemo ba tlhokomediso ya mehato ya tshireletso ya mohlodi o fanang ka eneji, bo neng bo lebelletswe basebetsing ba tshireletso ba sebetsang dibakeng tse fapaneng tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo e ne e le ntlha ya sehlooho ya phuputso ena. Bankakarolo ba 15 ba bileng le seabo kaofela ha bona ba ne ba hirilwe dibakeng tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo tse ngodisitsweng le Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA), ba ne ba sebetsa boemong ba diofisiri tsa tshireletso tsa Mophato wa B kapa bo hodingwana mme ba na le boiphihlelo boo ba tlang le bona ba ho bapala karolo ya bookamedi. Ho sebedisitswe mokgwa wa ho bokella le ho hlopholla datha eo e seng ya dipalo ho batlisisa le ho kenyeletsa dipatlisiso tse kenelletseng tsa diketsahalo tse itseng ho fihlela sepheo le mehato e totobetseng ya ho fihlela sepheo seo. Dipetlele tse hlano tsa Gauteng, Aforika Borwa, di sebedisitswe e le dibaka tse etswang dipatlisiso tse kenelletseng tsa diketsahalo tse amehang. Basebetsi ba bararo ba nang le bokgoni bo hlokehang ba tswang sepetlele se seng le se seng ba sebetsa e le yuniti ya tlhahlobo phuputsong. Bankakarolo bana ba kgethilwe hobane ba ne ba jara boikarabelo ba polokeho le tshireletso dibakeng tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo. Datha ya lesedi le itshetlehileng diketsahalong tse bileng teng le maemong a behilweng leihlo e bokelletswe ka diinthaviu tsa dipotso tse hlophisitsweng le tse sa hlophiswang tse tshwaretsweng mohaleng kapa ka ho kopana le bankakarolo ka seqo. Datha e hlahlobilwe ho ya ka mookotaba wa phuputso, mme mokgwa wa ho lekola boemo ba patlisiso o hlophisitswe ka hloko. Ho feta moo, phuputso e entswe ho ya ka ditataiso tsa metheo e amohelehang ya boitshwaro le ho amohelwa ho ya ka melawana e laolang kamoo ho sebetswang ka teng. Lesedi le ka sehloohong le fumanweng la phuputso le bontshitse hore basebetsi ba tshireletso ba na le kgaello e kgolo ya ho tseba ka mehato ya tshireletso ya mohlodi o fanang ka eneji. Le ha bankakarolo ba ne ba tseba mafapha a radioloji dibakeng tsa bona, ba ne sa tsebe ka mehato ya tshireletso ya mohlodi wa eneji. Ho feta moo, bankakarolo ba patlisiso ba ne ba sa kgone ho hopola hore na mehlodi e fanang ka eneji e boletswe leanong la taolo le tshireletso ya maemo a koduwa kapa ha e a bolelwa. Bankakarolo ba ne sa rupellwa ka sehlooho se fuputswang mme ba ne sa tsebe ka menyetla ya thupello, e nang le dikameho tse kgolo/bohlokwa mehatong ya tshireletso ya mohlodi o fanang ka eneji dibakeng tse amehang. Sepheo sa phuputso se ile sa fihlelwa, ka hore ho fumanwe hore basebetsi ba tshireletso ba na le tsebo e kae ka mehato ya tshireletso ya mohlodi wa eneji dibakeng tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo. Ditshisinyo tse itshetlehileng leseding le fumanweng la phuputso di hlaloseditswe dibaka tsa tlhokomelo ya bophelo le basebetsi ba tshireletso ba nang le bokgoni bo itseng. Ho feta moo, ho entswe ditshisinyo tsa ntshetsopele ya nako e tlang e itshetlehileng mekgweng le melaong ya ho etsa dipatlisiso tsa mehato ya tshireletso ya mohlodi wa eneji dibakeng tsa tshireletso.

Inhloso yocwaningo kwakuwukuhlola izinga lolwazi mayelana nokuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe kubasebenzi bezokuphepha ezikhungweni zokunakekelwa kwempilo ezisesifundazweni saseGauteng eNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningo lwalugxile ezingeni lokuqwashisa ngokuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe okwakulindelekile kubasebenzi bezokuphepha abasebenza ezikhungweni zokunakekelwa kwempilo ezihlukahlukene. Ababambiqhaza abayi-15 ababa yingxenye yocwaningo bonke babeqashwe ezikhungweni zokunakekelwa kwempilo ezibhaliswe nePrivate Security Industry Regulatory Authority (iPSiRA). Basebenza ezingeni labasebenzi bezokuphepha beBanga B noma ngaphezulu futhi babenesipiliyoni emisebenzini yokwengamela. Kwasetshenziswa indlela efanele yokucwaninga kwahlanganiswa nocwaningo olubheke izindawo ezithile ukuze kufezekiswe inhloso nezinjongo zocwaningo. Kwathathwa izibhedlela ezinhlanu eGauteng, eNingizimu Afrika njengezindawo ucwaningo olubheke kuzo. Ochwepheshe abathathu bezokuphepha abavela esibhedlela ngasinye baba yiqoqo elihlaziywayo ocwaningweni. Laba babambiqhaza bakhethwa ngoba kuyibo ababheke ezokuphepha nokuvikeleka ezikhungweni zezempilo. Imininingo yocwaningo olufakazelwe yaqoqwa ngezingxoxo ezihleliwe ezaziqhutshwa siqu noma ngocingo. Imininingo yahlaziywa ngokwezihloko, kwase kubhekwa kabanzi indlela okuyiyo elandelwayo yokuhlola izingabunjalo locwaningo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ucwaningo lwalandela iziqondiso zenkambo yokulunga futhi lwagunyazwa ngendlela efanele. Okuqavile okutholakele ocwaningweni kwembula ukuntuleka okukhulu kolwazi lokuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe kubasebenzi bezokuphepha. Nakuba ababambiqhaza babeyazi iminyango yezemisebe ezikhungweni zabo, babengazi ngokuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ababambiqhaza bocwaningo abakwazanga ukukhumbula ukuthi imithombo yemisebe yabalulwa yini ekulawulweni kwezinhlekelele nakunqubomgomo yezokuphepha. Ababambiqhaza abazange baqeqeshwe maqondana nocwaningo futhi babengazi ngamathuba okuqeqeshwa, okuthinta kakhulu ukuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe ezikhungweni. Inhloso yocwaningo yafezeka, ngenxa yokuthi labonakala izinga lokuqwashisa ngokuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe kubasebenzi bezokuphepha abasebenza ezikhungweni zokunakekelwa kwempilo. Okunconywayo nokusekelwe kokutholakele ocwaningweni kubalulwe kabanzi ukuze kusizakale izikhungo zokunakekelwa kwempilo nochwepheshe bezokuphepha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuphakanyiswa ukuba kube nezincomo zesikhathi esizayo maqondana nokuthuthukisa ezesayensi ngokuphathelene nokuqashelwa kokulawulwa komthombo wemisebe ezikhungweni zezempilo.