Ionising Radiations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

• (iii) the apparatus does not under normal operating conditions cause a dose rate of more than 1???mSvh−1 at a distance of 0.1m from any accessible surface; and

• (iv) conditions for the disposal of the apparatus have been specified by the chief inspector;

• (d) the operation of any electrical apparatus to which these Regulations apply other than apparatus referred to in sub-paragraph (e) provided that—

• (i) the apparatus is of a type approved—

• (aa) by the Executive; or

• (bb) by the Great Britain Executive in accordance with paragraph 1(d) of Schedule 1 to the Great Britain Regulations; and

• (ii) the apparatus does not under normal operating conditions cause a dose rate of more than 1mSvh−1 at a distance of 0.1m from any accessible surface;

• (e) the operation of—

• (i) any cathode ray tube intended for the display of visual images; or

• (ii) any other electrical apparatus operating at a potential difference not exceeding 30kV,

provided that the operation of the tube or apparatus does not under normal operating conditions cause a dose rate of more than 1mSvh–1 at a distance of 0.1m from any accessible surface;

• (f) where the work involves material contaminated with radioactive substances resulting from authorised releases which the chief inspector has declared not to be subject to further control.

2

In this Schedule, “the chief inspector” has the meaning assigned to it by section 47(1) of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993[^f00028].

SCHEDULE 2 — Particulars to be provided in a notification under Regulation 6(2)

The following particulars shall be given in a notification under regulation 6(2)—

• (a) the name and address of the employer and a contact telephone or fax number or electronic mail address;

• (b) the address of the premises where or from where the work activity is to be carried out and a telephone or fax number or electronic mail address at such premises;

• (c) the nature of the business of the employer;

• (d) into which of the following categories the source or sources of ionising radiation fall—

• (i) sealed source,

• (ii) unsealed radioactive substance,

• (iii) electrical equipment,

• (iv) an atmosphere containing the short-lived daughters of radon 222;

• (e) whether or not any source is to be used at premises other than the address given at sub-paragraph (b) above; and

• (f) dates of notification and commencement of the work activity.

SCHEDULE 3 — Additional particulars that the Executive may require

The following additional particulars may be required under regulation 6(3)—

• (a) a description of the work with ionising radiation;

• (b) particulars of the source or sources of ionising radiation including the type of electrical equipment used or operated and the nature of any radioactive substance;

• (c) the quantities of any radioactive substance involved in the work;

• (d) the identity of any person engaged in the work;

• (e) the date of commencement and the duration of any period over which the work is carried on;

• (f) the location and description of any premises at which the work is carried out on each occasion that it is so carried out;

• (g) the date of termination of the work;

• (h) further information on any of the particulars listed in Schedule 2.

SCHEDULE 4 — Dose Limits

Part I — Classes of person to whom dose limits apply

Employees of 18 years or above

1

For the purposes of regulation 11(1), the limit on effective dose for any employee of 18 years or above shall be 20 mSv in any calendar year.

2

Without prejudice to paragraph 1—

• (a) the limit on equivalent dose for the lens of the eye shall be 150 mSv in a calendar year;

• (b) the limit on equivalent dose for the skin shall be 500 mSv in a calendar year as applied to the dose averaged over any area of 1cm² regardless of the area exposed;

• (c) the limit on equivalent dose for the hands, forearms, feet and ankles shall be 500 mSv in a calendar year.

Trainees aged under 18 years

3

For the purposes of regulation 11(1), the limit on effective dose for any trainee under 18 years shall be 6 mSv in any calendar year.

4

Without prejudice to paragraph 3—

• (a) the limit on equivalent dose for the lens of the eye shall be 50 mSv in a calendar year;

• (b) the limit on equivalent dose for the skin shall be 150 mSv in a calendar year as applied to the dose averaged over any area of 1cm² regardless of the area exposed;

• (c) the limit on equivalent dose for the hands, forearms, feet and ankles shall be 150 mSv in a calendar year.

Women of reproductive capacity

5

Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 3, the limit on equivalent dose for the abdomen of a woman of reproductive capacity who is at work, being the equivalent dose from external radiation resulting from exposure to ionising radiation averaged throughout the abdomen, shall be 13 mSv in any consecutive period of three months.

Other persons

6

Subject to paragraph 7, for the purposes of regulation 11(1) the limit on effective dose for any person other than an employee or trainee referred to in paragraphs 1 or 3 , including any person below the age of 16, shall be 1 mSv in any calendar year.

7

Paragraph 6 shall not apply in relation to any person (not being a comforter or carer) who may be exposed to ionising radiation resulting from the medical exposure of another and in such a case the limit on effective dose for any such person shall be 5 mSv in any period of 5 consecutive calendar years.

8

Without prejudice to paragraphs 6 and 7—

• (a) the limit on equivalent dose for the lens of the eye shall be 15 mSv in any calendar year;

• (b) the limit on equivalent dose for the skin shall be 50 mSv in any calendar year averaged over any 1cm² area of skin regardless of the area exposed;

• (c) the limit on equivalent dose for the hands, forearms, feet and ankles shall be 50 mSv in a calendar year.

Part II

9

For the purposes of regulation 11(2), the limit on effective dose for employees of 18 years or above shall be 100 mSv in any period of five consecutive calendar years subject to a maximum effective dose of 50 mSv in any single calendar year.

10

Without prejudice to paragraph 9—

• (a) the limit on equivalent dose for the lens of the eye shall be 150 mSv in a calendar year;

• (b) the limit on equivalent dose for the skin shall be 500 mSv in a calendar year as applied to the dose averaged over any area of 1cm² regardless of the area exposed;

• (c) the limit on equivalent dose for the hands, forearms, feet and ankles shall be 500 mSv in a calendar year.

11

Without prejudice to paragraph 9, the limit on equivalent dose for the abdomen of a woman of reproductive capacity who is at work, being the equivalent dose from external radiation resulting from exposure to ionising radiation averaged throughout the abdomen, shall be 13 mSv in any consecutive period of three months.

12

The employer shall ensure that any employee in respect of whom regulation 11(2) applies is not exposed to ionising radiation to an extent that any dose limit specified in paragraphs 9 to 11 is exceeded.

13

An employer shall not put into effect a system of dose limitation in pursuance of regulation 11(2) unless—

• (a) the radiation protection adviser and any employees who are affected have been consulted;

• (b) any employees affected and the approved dosimetry service have been informed in writing of the decision and of the reasons for that decision;

• (c) notice has been given to the Executive at least 28 days (or such shorter period as the Executive may allow) before the decision is put into effect giving the reasons for the decision.

14

Where there is reasonable cause to believe that any employee has been exposed to an effective dose greater than 20 mSv in any calendar year, the employer shall, as soon as is practicable—

• (a) undertake an investigation into the circumstances of the exposure for the purpose of determining whether the dose limit referred to in paragraph 9 is likely to be complied with; and

• (b) notify the Executive of that suspected exposure.

15

An employer shall review the decision to put into effect a system of dose limitation pursuant to regulation 11(2) at appropriate intervals and in any event not less than once every five years.

16

Where as a result of a review undertaken pursuant to paragraph 15 an employer proposes to revert to a system of annual dose limitation pursuant to regulation 11(1), the provisions of paragraph 13 shall apply as if the reference in that paragraph to regulation 11(2) was a reference to regulation 11(1).

17

Where an employer puts into effect a system of dose limitation in pursuance of regulation 11(2), he shall record the reasons for that decision and shall ensure that the record is preserved for a period of 50 years from the date of its making.

18

In any case where—

• (a) the dose limits specified in paragraph 9 are being applied by a radiation employer in respect of an employee; and

• (b) the Executive is not satisfied that it is impracticable for that employee to be subject to the dose limit specified in paragraph 1 of Part I,

the Executive may require the employer to apply the dose limit specified in paragraph 1 of Part I with effect from such time as the Executive may consider appropriate having regard to the interests of the employee concerned.

19

In any case where, as a result of a review undertaken pursuant to paragraph 15 an employer proposes to revert to an annual dose limitation in accordance with regulation 11(1) , the Executive may require the employer to defer the implementation of that decision to such time as the Executive may consider appropriate having regard to the interests of the employee concerned.

20

Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of the Executive taken pursuant to paragraphs 18 or 19 may appeal to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

21

Chapter I of the Schedule to the Deregulation (Model Appeal Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997[^f00029] shall apply to any appeal made under paragraph 20.

SCHEDULE 5 — Matters in respect of which a radiation protection adviser must be consulted by a radiation employer

1

The implementation of requirements as to controlled and supervised areas.

2

The prior examination of plans for installations and the acceptance into service of new or modified sources of ionising radiation in relation to any engineering controls, design features, safety features and warning devices provided to restrict exposure to ionising radiation.

3

The regular calibration of equipment provided for monitoring levels of ionising radiation and the regular checking that such equipment is serviceable and correctly used.

4

The periodic examination and testing of engineering controls, design features, safety features and warning devices and regular checking of systems of work provided to restrict exposure to ionising radiation.

SCHEDULE 6 — Particulars to be entered in the radiation passbook

1

Individual serial number of the passbook.

2

A statement that the passbook has been approved—

• (a) by the Executive for the purpose of these Regulations; or

• (b) by the Great Britain Executive for the purpose of the Great Britain Regulations.

3

Date of issue of the passbook by the approved dosimetry service.

4

The name, telephone number and mark of endorsement of the issuing approved dosimetry service.

5

The name, address, telephone and telex/fax number of the employer.

6

Full name (surname, forenames), date of birth, gender and national insurance number of the outside worker to whom the passbook has been issued.

7

Date of the last medical review of the outside worker and the relevant classification in the health record maintained under regulation 24 as fit, fit subject to conditions (which shall be specified) or unfit.

8

The relevant dose limits applicable to the outside worker to whom the passbook has been issued.

9

The cumulative dose assessment in mSv for the year to date for the outside worker, external (whole body, organ or tissue) and/or internal as appropriate and the date of the end of the last assessment period.

10

In respect of services performed by the outside worker—

• (a) the name and address of the employer responsible for the controlled area;

• (b) the period covered by the performance of the services;

• (c) estimated dose information, which shall be, as appropriate—

• (i) an estimate of any whole body effective dose in mSv received by the outside worker;

• (ii) in the event of non-uniform exposure, an estimate of the equivalent dose in mSv to organs and tissues as appropriate; and

• (iii) in the event of internal contamination, an estimate of the activity taken in or the committed dose.

SCHEDULE 7 — Particulars to be contained in a health record

The following particulars shall be contained in a health record made for the purposes of regulation 24(3)—

• (a) the employee's—

• (i) full name;

• (ii) sex;

• (iii) date of birth;

• (iv) permanent address; and

• (v) National Insurance number;

• (b) the date of the employee’s commencement as a classified person in present employment;

• (c) the nature of the employee’s employment;

• (d) in the case of a female employee, a statement as to whether she is likely to receive in any consecutive period of three months an equivalent dose of ionising radiation for the abdomen exceeding 13 mSv;

• (e) the date of last medical examination or health review carried out in respect of the employee;

• (f) the type of the last medical examination or health review carried out in respect of the employee;

• (g) a statement by the appointed doctor or employment medical adviser made as a result of the last medical examination or health review carried out in respect of the employee classifying the employee as fit, fit subject to conditions (which should be specified) or unfit;

• (h) in the case of a female employee in respect of whom a statement has been made under paragraph (d) to the effect that she is likely to receive in any consecutive period of three months an equivalent dose of ionising radiation for the abdomen exceeding 13 mSv, a statement by the appointed doctor or employment medical adviser certifying whether in his professional opinion the employee should be subject to the additional dose limit specified in paragraphs 5 and 11 of Schedule 4;

• (i) in relation to each medical examination and health review, the name and signature of the appointed doctor or employment medical adviser;

• (j) the name and address of the approved dosimetry service with whom arrangements have been made for maintaining the dose record in accordance with regulation 21.

SCHEDULE 8 — Quantities and Concentrations of Radionuclides

Part I — Table of Radionuclides