Radiation Protection
Legislation
Stephen McCallum
Radiation Legislation
The aim of legislation is to
protect, individuals,
populations and the
environment from adverse
affects of ionising radiation.
Ionising Radiation Regulations
1999
Know as IRR99 - made under the Health and Safety at Work Act
1974. Enforcement agency is the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE)
Controls occupational
exposures to workers
and exposures to the
public as a result of the
use of ionising radiation
in the work place
Radioactive Substances
Act 1993
RSA93, Enforcement agency is the Environment Agency (EA) in
England & Wales and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
(SEPA) in Scotland
Sets out regulatory frame
work for the keeping of
radioactive sources and
the disposal of radioactive
waste
Route to legislation
ICRP Guidance
IAEA Guidance
European directives
UK law via an
existing or new act of
parliament
IRR99 Employer responsibility
Every radiation employer shall, in
relation to any work with ionising
radiation that he undertakes, take all
necessary steps to restrict so far as is
reasonably practicable the extent to
which his employees and other
persons are exposed to ionising
radiation
IRR99 – Dose Limits
Whole Body
effective dose
(mSv)
Eye
Equivalent
Dose (mSv)
Skin
Equivalent
Dose (mSv)
Hands,
forearms, feet
Equivalent
Dose (mSv)
Employees
20
150
500
500
Trainees
6
50
150
150
Others
1
15
50
50
IRR99 – Classified workers
• A worker must be Classified if they are likely to
receive a whole body dose of more than 6mSv
per year or more than 3/10 of any relevant dose
limit.
• Classified workers must under a yearly medical
by an doctor appointed by the employer.
• Issued with a pass book detailing their dose
record.
• Are able to enter controlled areas
• Personal Radiation doses must be monitored
IRR99 – Non Classified workers
• Classification not required for doses up to
3/10 of relevant dose limit i.e. 6mSv for
body dose.
• Only able to enter controlled area under a
system of work drawn up by the employer.
System of work normally part of the local
rules
• Personal Radiation dose often monitored to
show that classification not required
IRR99 – duties of employer
• Carry out prior risk assessments before
work commences
This is one of the key elements of the
legislation. From the risk assessment the
employer should be able to determine the
measures required to control and limit
doses to staff and the public.
IRR99 – duties of employer
• Designation of areas
Controlled areas under IRR99 should be set up
where a person is likely to receive an effective
whole body dose of more than 6mSv per year or
where there is significant risk of spreading
contamination outside the work area.
Controlled areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
Must be under the control of the employer
Must be physically demarcated
Must have suitable signage
Local rules should be drawn up
Radiation Protection Supervisor appointed
Environmental and personal monitoring
should take place
Supervised areas
• Any area where the conditions need to be
kept under review
• Any person is likely to receive an effective
dose >1mSv/y or > than 1/10 of any other
dose limit.
• It does not automatically follow that
outside every controlled area there will be
a supervised area.
IRR99 – duties of employer
Draw up local rules
• Required for every controlled area and normally
every supervised area
• Contain a key set of working instructions
designed to restrict exposure.
• Contingency plans if things go wrong.
• Systems of work for non classified workers.
• Must take steps to ensure rules or observed an
brought to the attention of effected workers
IRR99 – duties of employer
Special consideration for pregnant and
breast feeding workers
Once notified must ensure the equivalent dose
to the foetus is unlikely to exceed 1mSv during
the remainder of the pregnancy;
For breastfeeding mothers restrictions in place
to prevent significant bodily contamination of that
employee
IRR99 – duties of employer
Appointment of Radiation Protection
Supervisor
• Responsible for ensuring that the Local rules are
adhered to and for supervising the arrangements.
• Know and understand the requirements of the
relevant regulations and local rules.
• Command sufficient authority to allow them to
supervise the work.
• Understand the necessary precautions
• Know what to do in an emergency
IRR99 – duties of employer
Appointment of Radiation Protection Advisor
• An RPA must be consulted on the implementation of
these regulations.
• Prior examination of plans.
• Critical Examinations of equipment
• Periodic testing of control measures
• Implementation of requirements for controlled and
supervised areas
• Calibration of instruments
• Dose limitation procedures
• PPE, Training, Outside Workers etc.
and more
IRR99 – duties of employer
• Selection, maintenance and quality assurance of
medical equipment.
• Area monitoring
• Training
• Provide suitable Personal Protective Equipment
• Co-operation between employers
• Holding sealed sources
• Accounting and movement of radioactive
substances
• Reporting incidents
IRR99 - Duties of Employees
• No one must knowingly expose himself or
any other person to ionising radiation to an
extent that is greater than is reasonably
necessary for the purposes of his work.
• Personal Protective Equipment must be used
in the correct manner if provided.
Radioactive Substances Act 1993
(RSA 1993)
• Must register all sources with Environment
Agency (in Scotland SEPA)
• Must obtain authorisation to store and
dispose of waste
RSA 1993
Registration of Sources
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•
•
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Premises where source kept (Section 7 (2) (a))
Undertaking on premises - hospital (Section 7 (2) (a))
Use of sources
Section 7 (2) (c)
Description
Section 7 (2) (d)
– what and how much
• Separate application for
– Sealed Sources
– Unsealed Sources
– Mobile Sources
Sections 3 & 9
RSA 1993
Authorisation for disposal and accumulation
of radioactive waste
• Premises where the waste is to be
disposed of
• Routes – Waste contractor, sewer
• Form- Solid, liquid or Gaseous
• and activity
RSA 1993
Record Keeping
The employer is responsible for keeping
sufficient records, of sources holdings, waste
storage and waste disposal.