The unit is used to carry out full-body X-ray examinations on workers in an attempt to curb diamond theft.

Namdeb's Group Manager for External Affairs & Corporate Communications, Hilifa Mbako, says there is no evidence to suggest any link between the low-dose X-ray exposures conducted at Namdeb and the occurrence of cancer.

"There is no evidence at all that such exposure would cause, or advance, the probability of cancer in employees," he said.

He added that the company attached the highest level of importance to employee safety and wellbeing.

"It is for this reason that no compromises are tolerated in the governance around the use of personnel X-ray technology," he said.

According to Mbako, the use of X-ray equipment is strictly controlled by the Ministry of Health, which issues the licences and carries out inspections of the equipment and dosage records.

The workers also claim that they are in the dark about the X-ray dosage levels they are exposed to.

They claim that the level of the dose is a closely guarded secret only known to security personnel, radiation protection officers and those occupying high positions in Namdeb.

Mbako did not disclose the dosage level, but said any concerned employee was welcome to discuss the level of radiation he or she was exposed to with the company's chief medical officer.

"Namdeb has always been willing to have such discussions on an individual basis and a number of employees have taken advantage of these opportunities over the years," he said.

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