Legal framework

Irradiating apparatus and radioactive materials are used routinely in medicine, industry, research and education. In addition, some workers can be exposed to high levels of naturally occurring radiation, including radon and in the particular case of air crew, cosmic radiation.

Stringent regulatory controls are in place to protect workers from exposure to harmful levels of ionising radiation. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, requires employers to identify hazards in the workplace, assess the risk to health and safety from these hazards, and put in place measures to eliminate or reduce the risk.

The primary Irish legislation governing the protection of workers and members of the public from ionising radiation is the Radiological Protection Act, 1991, and its supplementary legislation - particularly the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order, 2000 (SI 125 of 2000). The RPII is responsible for implementing this legislation.

What is required of employers?

1. Employers using licensed sources of ionising radiation (licensees)

All users of ionising radiation are required to hold a licence from the RPII, unless exempted by the legislation. In terms of workforce protection, conditions that licensees must adhere to include:

• Maintaining records of all radioactive materials and irradiating apparatus
• Keeping records of worker doses, disposals, incidents, faults, and other relevant information involving the licensed items
• Ensuring that any changes to licensed facilities (e.g. new X-ray equipment; relocation of materials or equipment) are submitted by the Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA), or Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) for authorisation by the RPII
• Developing and maintaining a Radiation Safety Manual/Radiation Safety Procedures
• Notifying the local Fire Officer of the location and nature of all radioactive materials
• Carrying out an assessment of the potential radiation hazards prior to acquiring a licensable item
• Ensuring proper labelling of all radioactive materials and irradiating apparatus
• Making sure that all licensed items are subject to routine maintenance in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions, with appropriate quality assurance testing as recommended by the RPA/RPO.

Further information for licensees is available on our website or you can contact us for details.

2. Employers and indoor radon

Radon gas can accumulate in indoor workplaces leading to a build-up of potentially harmful radiation. The RPII recommends that all workplaces, especially those in High Radon Areas, should be measured for radon. By law the RPII can direct any employer to have radon measurements carried out.

According to the Health and Safety Authority all indoor workplaces in High Radon Areas located at ground floor or basement level, must be measured for radon. Radon measurement must take place over three consecutive months and be conducted by an approved radon measuring service.

The legal limit for radon in Irish workplaces is set at 400 Bequerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). Where high radon levels are identified measures must be put in place to protect your workforce.

3. Employers with underground workers

Radon has long been recognised as a potential hazard in underground workplaces such as mines and show caves. In such workplaces, radon concentrations in excess of the legal limit have been found.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, every employer has a duty to ensure the safety and the prevention of risk to health at work of their employees. This includes safeguarding against harmful levels of exposure to ionising radiation.

In addition, the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising radiation) Order, 2000 ( S.I. 125 of 2000)  requires employers, on direction from the RPII, to measure radon gas concentrations in workplaces.

In underground workplaces, the areas to be measured for radon include:

• The underground work areas
• Work areas above the ground, such as workshops, warehouses, offices and shops.

The RPII has produced a booklet which can provide more information on radon in underground workplaces

4. Airline Operators

Cosmic radiation, which is generated outside the Earth’s atmosphere presents a radiation risk to aircrew.  Airline operators are required to evaluate the radiation doses received by air crew who are liable to receive an annual radiation dose greater than 1 milliSievert (mSv) over a 12 month period. This effectively applies only to those airlines flying at or above an altitude of 8000 metres.

The purpose of the evaluation is to identify:

• Air crew liable to receive in excess of 1 mSv in any 12 month period
• Air crew liable to exceed 6 mSv in any 12 month period.

The result of this evaluation will determine whether measures to control exposure to cosmic radiation are warranted.