Evaluation of Radiation Safety Compliance in Diagnostic Radiology Departments in Tertiary Hospitals in Lagos State

Ionizing radiation safety in diagnostic radiology departments is a patient and worker protection priority that requires systematic compliance monitoring in line with national and international regulatory standards. This study evaluates radiation safety compliance in diagnostic radiology departments at four tertiary hospitals in Lagos State, covering staff dosimetry practices, equipment quality control, shielding adequacy, and patient dose optimization measures. A structured compliance checklist based on the International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority guidelines was applied across all four facilities. Radiation workers were interviewed regarding dosimetry badge usage, personal protective equipment availability, and training history. Radiation surveys were conducted with a calibrated Geiger-Muller survey meter to assess scatter radiation levels at workstations and control areas. Results show full compliance with shielding adequacy requirements at three of four facilities. However, dosimetry badge usage compliance was below seventy percent at two facilities, with a significant proportion of staff reporting they rarely wore personal dosimeters during procedures. Patient gonadal shielding was practiced in fewer than forty percent of observed plain radiography examinations. No facility had a current documented quality control programme for X-ray tube output and beam quality. Radiation safety training records were present at all four facilities, though training frequency was below the recommended annual standard at two institutions. The study recommends strengthened NNRA oversight, mandatory annual radiation safety refresher training, and standardized patient dose optimization protocols at Lagos State tertiary hospitals. Keywords: radiation safety, diagnostic radiology, compliance, dosimetry, Lagos State.