Ionising radiation

Ionising radiation occurs as either electromagnetic rays (such as X-rays and gamma rays) or particles (such as alpha and beta particles). It occurs naturally (e.g. from the radioactive decay of natural radioactive substances such as radon gas and its decay products) but can also be produced artificially. People can be exposed externally, to radiation from a radioactive material or a generator such as an X-ray set, or internally, by inhaling or ingesting radioactive substances.

Ionising radiations can pose very high risks if the associated control measures are inadequate. The consequences of failure can be significant and far-reaching. For this reason, the law (the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999) and the accompanying Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) Work with Ionising Radiation L121 detail specific requirements that need to be followed closely. Your main duties as an employer are to:

• appoint a radiation protection adviser (RPA), i.e. an individual who holds a valid certificate from an assessing body recognised by HSE within the last five years. This may be a qualified member of an organisation such as the Health Protection Agency. The RPA should be consulted whenever there is a query concerning work with ionising radiations and particularly as detailed below;
  
• appoint and train an employee as a radiation protection supervisor (RPS) unless the RPA advises that this is not necessary. The RPS needs to know enough about radiation protection principles and procedures, the requirements of the regulations and the arrangements in the local rules to enable them to supervise the work safely; and
  
• conduct risk assessments for all activities involving ionising radiations. In practice, these will be completed by your RPA, but it remains your responsibility to ensure that they have been done. Arising from the risk assessments will be the need to document specific local rules for all processes involving ionising radiations in association with the RPA and RPS. Local rules should contain at least the following:
  
  (a) the dose investigation level specified for the purposes of regulation 8(7);
  
  (b) identification or summary of any contingency arrangements indicating the reasonably foreseeable accidents to which they relate (regulation 12(2));
  
  (c) name(s) of the appointed radiation protection supervisor(s) (regulation 17(4));
  
  (d) the identification and description of the area covered, with details of its designation (regulation 18(1)); and
  
  (e) an appropriate summary of the working instructions, including the written arrangements relating to non-classified persons entering or working in controlled areas.

Requirements for workplace monitoring, and health surveillance and record-keeping also need to be specified.

When to consult the RPA

Instances when the RPA should be consulted include:

1.  Any change in work or new work involving ionising radiations, including purchase of new radioactive sources or X-ray equipment.
2. Modifications to local rules (revised drafts should be offered to the RPA for comment).
3. Disposal of radioactive sources and other radioactive wastes.
4. Any suspected overexposure of any individual.
5. Any suspected loss or theft of radioactive materials or damage to a radioactive source.
6. Any failure of a critical safety system designed to prevent significant exposure (e.g. an interlock on an X-ray room door).
7. Appointment of radiation protection supervisors.
8. Issues relating to radioactive contamination of buildings and land.
9. Transport of radioactive materials between sites.
10. Where female employees or young persons work directly with ionising radiations.

Details of how to contact the RPA, including emergency call-out arrangements, are held by individual site radiation protection supervisors.