Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999
Encyclopedia
The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) are a statutory instrument
which form the main legal requirements for the use and control of ionising radiation
in the United Kingdom
. The main aim of the regulations as defined by the official code of practice is to "establish a framework for ensuring that exposure to ionising radiation arising from work activities, whether man made or natural radiation and from external radiation or internal radiation, is kept as low as reasonably practicable
(ALARP) and does not exceed dose limits dose limits specified for individuals".
.
The regulations are aimed at employers and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE). They form the legal basis for ionising radiation protection in the United Kingdom (UK), although work with ionising radiation is also controlled in the UK through other statutory instruments such as the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and the Radioactive Substances Act 1993
.
The IRR99 make legal requirements including prior authorisation of the use of particle accelerators and x-ray
machines, the appointment of radiation protection supervisors(RPS) and advisors(RPA), control and restriction of exposure to ionising radiation (including dose limits), and a requirement for local rules. Local rules including the designation of controlled areas, defined as places where "special procedures are needed to restrict significant exposure".
is one of a number of public bodies which regulates workplaces which could expose workers to radiation. Radiation itself is energy that travels either as electromagentic waves, or as subatomic particles and can be categorised as either 'ionising' or 'non-ionising radiation'. Ionising radiation occurs naturally but can also be artificially created. Generally people can be be exposed to radiation externally from radioactive material or internally by inhaling or ingesting radioactive substances. Exposure to electromagentic rays such as x-rays and gamma rays can, depending on the time exposed, cause sterility, genetic defects, premature ageing and death. Non-ionising radiation is the terms used to describe the part of the electromagnetic spectrum covering 'Optical radiation', such as ultraviolet light and 'electromagnetic fields' such as microwaves and radio frequencies. Health risks caused by exposure to this type of radiation will often be as a result of too much exposure to ultraviolet light either from the sun or from sunbeds which could lead to skin cancer
.
Statutory Instrument
A Statutory Instrument is the principal form in which delegated or secondary legislation is made in Great Britain.Statutory Instruments are governed by the Statutory Instruments Act 1946. They replaced Statutory Rules and Orders, made under the Rules Publication Act 1893, in 1948.Most delegated...
which form the main legal requirements for the use and control of ionising radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The main aim of the regulations as defined by the official code of practice is to "establish a framework for ensuring that exposure to ionising radiation arising from work activities, whether man made or natural radiation and from external radiation or internal radiation, is kept as low as reasonably practicable
ALARP
ALARP stands for "as low as reasonably practicable", and is a term often used in the milieu of safety-critical and safety-involved systems. The ALARP principle is that the residual risk shall be as low as reasonably practicable...
(ALARP) and does not exceed dose limits dose limits specified for individuals".
Background
The regulations came into force on 1 January 2000, replacing the 'Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985'. They effectively implement the majority of the European Basic Safety Standards Directive '96/29/Euratom' under the auspices of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This European Directive is in turn a reflection of the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological ProtectionInternational Commission on Radiological Protection
The International Commission on Radiological Protection is an advisory body providing recommendations and guidance on radiation protection; It was founded in 1928 by the International Society of Radiology and was then called the ‘International X-ray and Radium Protection Committee’...
.
The regulations are aimed at employers and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
(HSE). They form the legal basis for ionising radiation protection in the United Kingdom (UK), although work with ionising radiation is also controlled in the UK through other statutory instruments such as the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and the Radioactive Substances Act 1993
Radioactive Substances Act 1993
The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 deals with the control of radioactive material and disposal of radioactive waste in the United Kingdom.On 6th April 2010 the Environmental Permitting Regulations...
.
The IRR99 make legal requirements including prior authorisation of the use of particle accelerators and x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
machines, the appointment of radiation protection supervisors(RPS) and advisors(RPA), control and restriction of exposure to ionising radiation (including dose limits), and a requirement for local rules. Local rules including the designation of controlled areas, defined as places where "special procedures are needed to restrict significant exposure".
Ionising and non-ionising radiation and associated health risks
The regulations impose duties on employers to protect employees and anyone else from radiation arising from work with radioactive substances and other forms of ionising radiation. In the United Kingdom the Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
is one of a number of public bodies which regulates workplaces which could expose workers to radiation. Radiation itself is energy that travels either as electromagentic waves, or as subatomic particles and can be categorised as either 'ionising' or 'non-ionising radiation'. Ionising radiation occurs naturally but can also be artificially created. Generally people can be be exposed to radiation externally from radioactive material or internally by inhaling or ingesting radioactive substances. Exposure to electromagentic rays such as x-rays and gamma rays can, depending on the time exposed, cause sterility, genetic defects, premature ageing and death. Non-ionising radiation is the terms used to describe the part of the electromagnetic spectrum covering 'Optical radiation', such as ultraviolet light and 'electromagnetic fields' such as microwaves and radio frequencies. Health risks caused by exposure to this type of radiation will often be as a result of too much exposure to ultraviolet light either from the sun or from sunbeds which could lead to skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
.
Key areas of the regulations
The regulations are split into seven parts containing 41 regulations. The main concepts of the IRR99 are: general principles, procedures, and risk assessments; arrangements for management of radiation protection; control of areas; control of people; control of radioactive substances and equipment; accident preparedness.Dose Limits
In addition to requiring that radiation employers ensure that doses are kept as low as reasonable as low as reasonably practicable the IRR99 also defines dose limits for certain classes of person. Dose limits do not apply to people undergoing a medical exposure or to those acting as 'comforters and carers' to such.| Class of Person | Annual Dose Limit (mSv) |
|---|---|
| Employees aged 18 or over | 20 |
| Trainees aged 16 to 18 | 6 |
| Any other person | 1 |