New ionising radiation regulations were brought into force on in January this year (2018) and the new rules replaced the existing regulations following the introduction of the EU Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD) for radiological protection.
The HSE regulates work with ionising radiation to ensure that workers and members of the public are not harmed by these activities.
There are two key changes that employers should be aware of, the first of which decreases the specified dose limit for exposure to the eye from 150 millisieverts to 20 millisieverts per year.
Secondly, a new graded approach to risk has been introduced which is a three tiered risk-based system of regulated control. Depending on the level of danger, if any employee is working with ionising radiation then an employer will require to notify the HSE, register or obtain consent. Risk definitions are identified in the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance and employers must inform the HSE of their work with ionising radiation, even when they have already previously notified them.
Employers working in the manufacturing, nuclear, construction and engineering industries should be aware of the changes and how they will impact them. Failure to comply can result in enforcement action being taken, which could result in prosecution.
Safety requirements set out by the Euratom/European Union Basic Safety Standards Directive 2013 (BSSD) have also been updated and companies must implement these new requirements. Employers should ensure that they provide their workers with the correct safety equipment and have the correct procedures in place so work is carried out safely.
