Radiation

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 reg 19(2)(c)

Work involving harmful exposure to radiation

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 (eg from the radioactive decay of natural radioactive substances such as radon gas and its decay products) but can also be produced artificially. Everyone receives some exposure to natural background radiation.

Ionising radiation is used in medicine (for diagnosis and treatment), industry (for measurement and other purposes as well as for producing electricity), research and teaching.

What is the risk?

The risk of developing cancer and hereditary defects from exposure to ionising radiation, which increases slightly for young people, is controlled by setting statutory annual dose limits. The main dose limits which relate to the whole body dose are the most important elements in relation to cancer risk. The limits for young people per calendar year are:

• 6 millisieverts (mSv) for trainees under 18 years (30% of the adult limit). Trainees (including students) are defined as being aged 16 years or above receiving instruction or training involving work with ionising radiation.
• 1 mSv for employees below 18 years who are not trainees (the same limit as for the general public).

How to avoid the risk

You should:

• design work procedures to keep exposure to ionising radiation as low as reasonably practicable, within the prescribed dose limits; and
• ensure that young people only enter a ‘controlled area’ under the terms of a written system of work.

You cannot include young people under 18 years in the list of employees who you are required to classify as likely to receive doses higher than 6 mSv per calendar year from radiation exposure.

Non-ionising radiation

Non-ionising electromagnetic radiation (NIEMR) is the term used to describe the part of the electromagnetic spectrum covering two main regions, namely optical radiation (ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared) and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) (power frequencies, microwaves and radio frequencies).

Some common sources of optical radiation are the sun, sunbeds and lasers, while some typical sources of EMFs are electrical supply equipment and telecommunications systems.

(There will be new regulations on electromagnetic fields coming into force in April 2008 to implement the Electomagnetic Fields Directive. Regulations implementing the recently adopted Optical Radiation Directive will be in place by April 2010.)

What is the risk?

• Optical radiation: there is no evidence that young people face a greater risk of skin and eye damage than other employees.
• Electromagnetic fields and waves: Exposure within current recommendations is not known to cause ill health to employees of any age. Extreme over-exposure to radio-frequency radiation could cause harm by raising body temperature.

How to control the risk

• Optical radiation: People working outdoors should reduce their exposure to the sun in the summer months as much as is reasonably practicable. International standards for optical radiation are published by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
• Electromagnetic fields and waves: You should ensure that exposure to electric and magnetic fields does not exceed the restrictions on human exposure produced by the Health Protection Agency/Radiation Protection Division (HPA/RP), formerly the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB).