1. Legislation & codes of practice
Work with ionising radiations is now covered by three main Acts of Parliament and their accompanying regulations. These are:-
(a) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999;
(b) Radioactive Substances Act 1993; and
(c) Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Act 1991 and Radioactive Material (Road Transport)(Great Britain) Regulations 1996.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 introduced a new concept into safety legislation, in that for the first time, the employee as well as the employer has responsibilities to himself and to others who may be affected, not only by the work he performs, but also by any failure to perform his duties. The detailed requirements for work with ionising radiations under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act are provided by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 and the Approved Code of Practice for the protection of persons against ionising radiations arising from any work activity.
The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 is designed to control the use of radioactive materials, and all University buildings where radioactive materials are used hold Registration Certificates, issued to them by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). These spell out the radioisotopes which are allowed to be used and the amounts which can be held in store at any one time. SEPA also issue Authorisation Certificates for the disposal of radioactive waste, which place limits on the amounts which can be disposed of at any one time, and also specify the permitted means of disposal.
All School/Units using radionuclide(s) should have the SEPA Registration and Authorisation Certificates prominently displayed in the appropriate work area. It is important that all School/Units keep within the limits of their SEPA Certificates, but when necessary, these can be revised, with the help of the Radiation Protection Service.
The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Act 1991 and the Regulations enacted under it are designed to bring the U.K. into line with the Regulations drawn up by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Together with the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999, they govern the movement and transport of radioactive materials. More information on this subject can be found in Section 15.
Copies of the main Regulations, where appropriate, are held by Departmental Radiation Protection Supervisors (DRPS), and should be available for viewing at any reasonable time. These local rules are based upon all current Regulations and provide the radiation worker with guidance which should enable him to observe them.
There are enforcement agencies - The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) - which, from time to time, inspect work with ionising radiations at the University to ensure that the Regulations are complied with. They have the power to enter premises unannounced, to withdraw licences or issue prohibition notices if they find an unsatisfactory situation and to prosecute with possible fines of up to £20,000 per offence.
Note: Some Universities have been successfully prosecuted for failure to comply with the above legislation.