S.I. No. 249/1972 - Factories Ionising Radiations (Unsealed Radioactive Substances) Regulations, 1972.

1. For the purposes of these Regulations radionuclides shall be divided into the classes set out in the Table below.

2. In this Schedule "a" indicates an alpha emitted and "m" means the metastable state.

TABLE

Class I Radionuclides (High Toxicity)

Radionuclide

Symbol

a

Lead

210

Pb

a

Polonium

210

Po

a

Radium

223

Ra

a

Radium

226

Ra

Radium

228

Ra

a

Actinium

227

Ac

a

Thorium

227

Th

a

Thorium

228

Th

a

Thorium

230

Th

a

Protoactinium

231

Pa

a

Uranium

230

U

a

Uranium

232

U

a

Uranium

233

U

a

Uranium

234

U

a

Neptunium

237

Np

a

Pluntonium

238

Pu

a

Plutonium

239

Pu

a

Plutonium

240

Pu

a

Plutonium

241

Pu

a

Plutonium

242

Pu

a

Americium

241

Am

a

Americium

243

Am

Class I Radiounclides (High Toxicity)—

continued

.

Radionuclide

Symbol

a

Curium

242

Cm

a

Curium

243

Cm

a

Curium

244

Cm

a

Curium

245

Cm

a

Curium

246

Cm

a

Californium

249

Cf

a

Californium

250

Cf

a

Californium

252

Cf

Class II Radionuclides (Medium Toxicity—Upper Sub-Group A)

Radionuclide

Symbol

Sodium

22

Na

Chlorine

36

Cl

Calcium

45

Ca

Scandium

46

Sc

Manganese

54

Mn

Cobalt

56

Co

Cobalt

60

Co

Strontium

89

Sr

Strontium

90

Sr

Yttrium

91

Y

Zirconium

95

Zr

Ruthenium

106

Ru

Silver

110m

Ag

Cadmium

115m

Cd

Indium

114m

In

Antimony

124

Sb

Iodine

124

I

Antimony

125

Sb

Tellurium

127m

Te

Tellurium

129m

Te

Iodine

126

I

Iodine

131

I

Iodine

133

I

Caesium

134

Cs

Caesium

137

Cs

Barium

140

Ba

Cerium

144

Ce

Europium

152

Eu

(half-life—13 years)

Europium

154

Eu

Terbium

160

Tb

Thulium

170

Tm

Hafnium

181

Hf

Tantallum

182

Ta

Iridium

192

Ir

Thallium

204

Tl

Bismuth

207

Bi

a

Bismuth

210

Bi

a

Astatine

211

At

Lead

212

Pb

a

Radium

224

Ra

a

Actinium

228

Ac

a

Protoactinium

230

Pa

Thorium

234

Th

a

Uranium

236

U

a

Berkelium

249

Bk

Class III Radionuclides (Medium Toxicity—Lower Sub-Group B)

Radionuclide

Symbol

Beryllium

7

Be

Carbon

14

C

Flourine

18

F

Sodium

24

Na

Chlorine

38

Cl

Silicon

31

Si

Phosphorus

32

P

Sulphur

35

S

Argon

41

A

Potassium

42

K

Potassium

43

K

Calcium

47

Ca

Scandium

47

Sc

Scandium

48

Sc

Vanadium

48

V

Chromium

51

Cr

Iron

52

Fe

Manganese

52

Mn

Manganese

56

Mn

Iron

55

Fe

Iron

59

Fe

Cobalt

57

Co

Cobalt

58

Co

Nickel

63

Ni

Nickel

65

Ni

Copper

64

Cu

Zinc

65

Zn

Zinc

69m

Zn

Gallium

72

Ga

Arsenic

73

As

Arsenic

74

As

Arsenic

76

As

Arsenic

77

As

Selenium

75

Se

Bromine

82

Br

Krypton

85m

Kr

Krypton

87

Kr

Rubidium

86

Rb

Strontium

85

Sr

Strontium

91

Sr

Strontium

92

Sr

Yttrium

90

Y

Yttrium

92

Y

Yttrium

93

Y

Zirconium

97

Zr

Niobium

93m

Nb

Niobium

95

Nb

Molybdenum

99

Mo

Technetium

96

Tc

Technetium

97m

Tc

Technetium

97

Tc

Technetium

99

Tc

Ruthenium

97

Ru

Ruthenium

103

Ru

Ruthenium

105

Ru

Rhodium

105

Rh

Palladium

103

Pd

Palladium

109

Pd

Silver

105

Ag

Silver

111

Ag

Cadmium

109

Cd

Cadmium

115

Cd

Indium

115m

In

Class III Radionuclides (Medium Toxicity—Lower Sub-Group B)—Continued.

Radionuclide

Symbol

Tin

113

Sn

Tin

125

Sn

Antimony

122

Sb

Tellurium

125m

Te

Tellurium

127

Te

Tellurium

129

Te

Iodine

130

I

Tellurium

131m

Te

Tellurium

132

Te

Iodine

132

I

Iodine

134

I

Iodine

135

I

Xenon

135

Xe

Caesium

131

Cs

Caesium

136

Cs

Barium

131

Ba

Lanthanum

140

La

Cerium

141

Ce

Cerium

143

Ce

Praseodymium

142

Pr

Praseodymium

143

Pr

Neodymium

147

Nd

Neodymium

149

Nd

Promethium

147

Pm

Promethium

149

Pm

Samarium

151

Sm

Samarium

153

Sm

Europium

152

Eu

(half-life—9·2 hours)

Europium

155

Eu

Gadolinium

153

Gd

Gadolinium

159

Gd

Dysprosium

165

Dy

Dysprsoium

166

Dy

Holmium

166

Ho

Erbium

169

Er

Erbium

171

Er

Thulium

171

Tm

Ytterbium

175

Yb

Lutecium

177

Lu

Tungsten

181

W

Tungsten

185

W

Tungsten

187

W

Rhenium

183

Re

Rhenium

186

Re

Rhenium

188

Re

Osmium

185

Os

Osmium

191

Os

Osmium

193

Os

Iridium

190

Ir

Iridium

194

Ir

Platinum

191

Pt

Platinum

193

Pt

Platinum

197

Pt

Gold

196

Au

Gold

198

Au

Gold

199

Au

Mercury

197

Hg

Mercury

197m

Hg

Mercury

203

Hg

Class III Radionuclides (Medium Toxicity—Lower Sub-Group B)—Continued.

Radionuclides

Symbol

Thallium

200

Tl

Thallium

201

Tl

Thallium

202

Tl

Lead

203

Pb

Bismuth

206

Bi

a

Bismuth

212

Bi

a

Radon

220

Rn

a

Radon

222

Rn

Thorium

231

Th

Protoactinium

233

Pa

Neptunium

239

Np

Class IV Radionuclides (Low Toxicity)

Radionuclide

Symbol

Tritium

3

T

Oxygen

15

O

Argon

37

A

Cobalt

58m

Co

Nickel

59

Nl

Zinc

69

Zn

Germanium

71

Ge

Krypton

85

Kr

Strontium

85m

Sr

Rubidium

87

Rb

Yttrium

91m

Y

Zirconium

93

Zr

Niobium

97

Nb

Technetium

96m

Tc

Technetium

99m

Tc

Rhodium

103m

Rh

Indium

113m

In

Indium

115

In

Iodine

129

I

Xenon

131m

Xe

Xenon

133

Xe

Caesium

134m

Cs

a

Samarium

147

Sm

Rhenium

187

Re

Osium

191m

Os

Platinum

193m

Pt

Platinum

197m

Pt

a

Thorium

232

Th

a

Natural Thorium

Th-Nat

a

Uranium

235

U

a

Uranium

238

U

Natural Uranium

U-Nat

Depleted Uranium

U-Dep

Enriched Uranium

U-Enr

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 4th day of October, 1972.

JOSEPH BRENNAN,

Minister for Labour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The purpose of these Regulations is to prescribe measures which must be taken to ensure the adequate protection of persons employed in factories and other places, to which the

Factories Act, 1955

applies, against ionising radiations arising from unsealed radioactive substances.

The following forms have been approved by the Minister for Labour for the purposes of these regulations

Regulation 22 (2): Report of examination of photographic films and dosemeters—Form No. I.R.1. (with addendum)

Regulation 23 (1): Radiation Dose Record—Form No. I.R.2. (with addendum)

Regulation 26 (1): Transfer Record—Form No. I.R.3. (with addendum)

Regulation 35 (1): Health Register—Form No. I.R.4. (with addendum)

Regulation 54 (7): Register of Tests of Dosemeters and other Monitoring Instruments—Form No. I.R.6. (with addendum)

3. (1) Where measurements of contamination are made in the case of floors, ceilings or walls over an area not exceeding one thousand square centimetres, or in the case of other surfaces (other than of the body) over an area not exceeding three hundred square centimetres, the results of the measurements may be averaged over the whole of the area measured.

(2) Where measurements of contamination are made in the case of the person (other than the hands) over an area not exceeding one hundred square centimetres, or in the case of the hands, over the whole area of the hand, the results of the measurements may be averaged over the whole of the area measured.

Regulation 3 (1) and Schedule 2.

THIRD SCHEDULE

CLASSIFICATION OF RADIONUCLIDES

4. If the occupier is aware that any person employed was during any period—

(

a

) in protected employment, or

(

b

) in employment which, if it had occurred after the coming into operation of any Regulations under the Act, would have been protected employment, or

(

c

) in any other work involving exposure to ionising radiations,

for which no information is available to the occupier as to the doses that person received during that period of the kinds, and to the parts of the body, specified in paragraph 2, that person shall, for the purpose of calculating his total cumulative dose referred to in the said paragraph, be deemed to have received doses at the rate of 5 rems a year during that period.

Regulations

2, 4 (1) (c), 4 (3) (a), 20 (1),

24 (1) (c), 39 (2), 41 (1), 41 (7),

48 (1), 48 (2), 52 (1), 53 (1),

54 (2), 54 (3), 55 (1), 56, 57 and 58.

SECOND SCHEDULE

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION AND METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

5. The Minister may (subject to such conditions as may be specified therein) by certificate in writing (which he may in his discretion revoke at any time) exempt from all or any of the requirements of these Regulations any factory where he is satisfied that the requirements in respect of which the exemption is granted are not necessary for the protection of persons employed or are impracticable.

PART IIADMINISTRATION

6. (1) The occupier shall give previous notice in writing to the Minister (which except in cases of emergency shall be not less than one month's notice or such shorter notice as the Minister may agree to accept) before undertaking in a factory work to which these Regulations apply.

(2) The occupier shall either before or within seven days after ceasing to undertake work (otherwise than merely temporarily) to which these regulations apply give notice in writing to that effect to the Minister.

7. (1) Particulars identifying all active areas which remain active areas for seven or more consecutive days, shall be entered forthwith in a register kept for the purpose.

(2) Whenever any area, particulars whereof have been entered in the register, ceases, otherwise than temporarily, to be an active area, the occupier shall forthwith make an entry in the register accordingly.

8. The Minister shall be notified in writing of any loss of any unsealed radioactive substance in the circumstances specified in Regulation 46 (2) and of the following occurrences as soon as possible after they are discovered, that is to say—

(

a

) a spill or other accidental escape of any unsealed radioactive substance (otherwise than within a total enclosure or fume cupboard) which there is reason to believe has a total activity greater than one hundred microcuries of a Class I radionuclide, ten millicuries of a Class II radionuclide, one curie of a Class III radionuclide or one hundred curies of a Class IV radionuclide or, in the case of gaseous radioactive substances, one tenth of those amounts, and

(

b

) any unintended fire or explosion that involves or affects any unsealed radioactive substance which there is reason to believe has a total activity greater than one hundred microcuries of a Class I radionuclide, ten millicuries of a Class II radionuclide, one curie of a Class III radionuclide or one hundred curies of a Class IV radionuclide or, in the case of gaseous radioactive substances, one tenth of those amounts.

9. (1) The occupier shall appoint one or more competent persons to exercise special supervision with regard to the requirements of these Regulations and to assist in enforcing the observance of them.

(2) The name or names of the competent person or competent persons shall be kept posted in the factory where it or they can be conveniently read by the persons employed. Where different persons are appointed under this regulation for different parts of the factory or for different processes the name shall be posted in such a manner that the persons employed can readily identify the competent person or competent persons appointed under this regulation for the part of the factory or for the processes in which they are employed.

(3) Where more than one competent person is appointed under this regulation, any reference in these Regulations to the competent person appointed in accordance with this regulation shall be deemed to include a reference to any one of those persons or, as the case may be, to the person appointed, or to any one of the persons appointed, for the part of the factory or for the processes concerned.

10. The competent person appointed in accordance with Regulation 9 shall be informed of every matter which is required to be notified to the Minister under Regulation 8.

11. In addition to his other duties, the competent person appointed in accordance with Regulation 9 shall investigate the circumstances of every occurrence notified to him under Regulation 10 or Regulation 45 (1) and report thereon to the occupier with a recommendation as to the action, if any, which he considers ought to be taken.

12. Every register, certificate or record kept in pursuance of these Regulations and every transfer record and copy transfer record received by an employer in pursuance of Regulation 26 shall be preserved in the factory or in such place outside the factory as may be approved and kept available for inspection by any inspector or by the appointed doctor for at least the following periods after the last entry therein, that is to say, thirty years in the cases of the health register, the radiation dose records, the transfer records and the copy transfer records and two years in all other cases: Provided that where an extract from or a summary of any such document or documents as aforesaid has been so approved the provisions of this regulation may be complied with in relation to that document by preserving the said extract or summary (as the case may be) in place of the document or documents from which the extract, or of which the summary, has been made.

PART III BASIC PRINCIPLE OF PROTECTION

13. (1) The occupier shall do all that is reasonably practicable to restrict to the lowest possible level the extent to which the persons employed in a factory are exposed to ionising radiations and no person employed shall expose himself to ionising radiations to a greater extent than is reasonably necessary for the purposes of his work.

(2) Effective measures shall be taken by the occupier to ensure that no person employed shall receive any radiation dose in excess of those specified in the First Schedule to these Regulations and that any unnecessary exposure of such a person to ionising radiations is prevented.

14. The occupier shall do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent the inhalation and the ingestion by any person employed of any radioactive substance arising from any work carried on in the factory; and no person employed shall expose himself to any risk of inhaling or ingesting any radioactive substance, or of contaminating his body or his clothing, to a greater extent than is reasonably necessary for the purposes of his work.

15. All work shall be so conducted as to protect persons employed so far as is reasonably practicable—

(

a

) from contamination, and

(

b

) from airborne or gaseous radioactive substances.

16. Effective measures shall be taken by the occupier to ensure that all sources of ionising radiations are, at all times, adequately shielded.

17. No person employed shall be exposed to ionising radiations unless he has received and, where necessary, continues to receive, adequate training and instruction before and during such employment in the precautions to be taken for his protection in relation to his health and safety.

18. (1) Where the Minister has reasonable cause to believe that any person employed may have received, or is likely to receive, in any calendar year or in any calendar quarter, as the case may be, a sum of radiation doses greater than three-tenths of the appropriate dose specified in the First Schedule to these Regulations, or that any person employed may have inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed, or is likely to inhale, ingest or otherwise absorb, significant amounts of any unsealed radioactive substance, the Minister may serve on the occupier a written notice requiring him to make specified arrangements as respects all or any of the following matters, that is to say—

(

a

) the wearing by any person employed of a photographic film or an appropriate radiation dosemeter, and the keeping and preserving of records of doses received,

(

b

) the monitoring of any person employed or any part of the factory, and the keeping and preserving of records of measurements obtained by such monitoring,

(

c

) the determination in the case of any person so employed of the amount of radioactive substances in his body, and the estimation, when practicable, of the radiation dose therefrom, and the keeping and preserving of records of any determination and estimation so made,

(

d

) the suspension of any person so employed from work in which he will be exposed to ionising radiations or the imposing of special conditions as to his employment in any such work,

(

e

) the medical examination of any person so employed, and

(

f

) the making of a special entry in the radiation dose record in respect of any person so employed.

(2) It shall be the duty of every person employed in a factory to comply with the requirements of any such specified arrangements in so far as they require the wearing by him of photographic film or a radiation dosemeter or require him to be medically examined or to have the amount of radioactive substances in his body determined or monitored.

19. (1) Every person employed in a factory who notices anything that appears likely to cause danger from ionising radiations shall either—

(

a

) take all necessary steps to remove the danger, or

(

b

) withdraw from the place of danger without delay and report the matter forthwith to the occupier or the person appointed under Regulation 9.

(2) A person employed shall not, nor be required to, except with the consent of an authorised or competent person—

(

a

) pass beyond any barrier marking the boundaries of any active area or any radiation area,

(

b

) enter any such area, total enclosure, tracer area, or fume cupboard,

(

c

) open any locked container or door reserved for the storage of radioactive substances.

(3) Every person employed shall comply with any warning signals and directions given him by an authorised person.

PART IVRADIOLOGICAL SUPERVISION

20. (1) The following persons shall for the purposes of these Regulations be designated by the occupier as classified workers, that is to say, persons who are employed for any of their time in tracer areas, total enclosures, active areas or radiation areas in—

(

a

) work with unsealed radioactive substances or immediately ancillary work,

(

b

) the cleaning of tracer areas, total enclosures, fume cupboards or active areas, or

(

c

) the manipulation, cleaning or maintenance of any of the following which is contaminated or is likely to be contaminated in excess of the levels specified for category D in the Second Schedule to these Regulations, that is to say, plant, apparatus, equipment (including personal protective equipment), materials or articles,

not being persons employed in accordance with an approved scheme of work within the meaning of paragraph (2) of this Regulation and in these Regulations the expression "classified worker" shall be construed accordingly.

(2) In paragraph (1) of this regulation "approved scheme of work" means an approved scheme of work in relation to which the Minister is satisfied that the operating and working conditions and the system of control and instruction are such that a person working in accordance with the scheme is not likely to receive in any calendar year a sum of radiation doses greater than three-tenths of the appropriate dose specified in the First Schedule to these Regulations and is not likely to inhale, ingest, or otherwise absorb amounts of unsealed radioactive substances.

(3) No person under the age of 18 shall be employed on work which requires him to be designated as a classified worker.

(4) The names of all persons designated as classified workers shall be kept entered in the health register.

(5) This regulation shall not apply to any person who is employed in a tracer area on not more than 14 days in any calendar year.

21. Where any person is or is to be currently employed as a classified worker in more than one factory by the same employer—

(

a

) all the factories in which that person is or is to be so currently employed shall, in relation to that person, be deemed, for the purposes of these Regulations, to constitute one factory,

(

b

) except in the cases referred to in paragraph (

a

) of the definition of the expression "appointed doctor" in Regulation 2, reference in these Regulations to the appointed doctor shall be construed as references to the appointed doctor for any one of those factories, and

(

c

) the references to the health register in Regulations 29, 34 and 35 shall be construed as references to the health register for any one of those factories, so, however, that as respects any period only one health register shall be used in respect of that person, and

(

d

) the reference in Regulation 32 (1) to the factory shall be taken as a reference to any one of these factories.

22. (1) The occupier shall make suitable arrangements for the wearing by every classified worker on an appropriate part or parts of his person of either a suitable photographic film or films in an appropriate holder or holders or a suitable dosemeter or suitable dosemeters, being a dosemeter or dosemeters of an approved type, during any working period in which that worker is liable to be exposed to ionising radiations. It shall be the duty of every classified worker to wear in a proper manner any film or dosemeter provided for him in pursuance of this regulation, and at intervals specified by the occupier to return every such film or dosemeter to the occupier for the purposes of the examination mentioned in paragraph (2) of this regulation.

(2) The occupier shall obtain the said films, film holders and dosemeters from an approved laboratory and arrange for the films and dosemeters, identified by reference to the particular wearer, to be returned at appropriate intervals to that laboratory for processing and examination and for the issue to the occupier, by the director or other responsible person at the laboratory of certificates in the approved form of the results of the examination of each film and dosemeter.

23. (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this regulation, a radiation dose record shall be kept in the approved form and shall contain in relation to each classified worker particulars—

(

a

) of the maximum radiation doses permitted under the First Schedule to these Regulations,

(

b

) of the radiation doses received by him, and

(

c

) in relation to any person employed (whether or not he is a classified worker), any special entry required in accordance with Regulations 18 and 25.

(2) Where it appears to an occupier that any person employed or engaged for employment by him as a classified worker, either

(

a

) was previously engaged—

(i) in work in a factory, being work done before the imposition of requirements under the Act (including these Regulations) for recording the radiation doses received by the persons employed in such work, but which, if, after the date of the coming into operation of these Regulations, it had been done by a person employed would have been protected employment, or

(ii) in work not done in a factory but which if, after the date of the coming into operation of these Regulations, it had been done in a factory by a person employed, would have been protected employment, or

(

b

) at times other than the hours during which he is employed by him is engaged in work of a kind specified in sub-paragraph (

a

) (ii) of this paragraph,

and such person produces to the occupier any document purporting to be a record of radiation doses received by that person whilst performing the work, the occupier shall so far as practicable, enter in the radiation dose record kept in relation to that person in pursuance of the foregoing paragraph of this regulation, the particulars contained in the said document of the radiation doses received by him whilst performing that work.

(3) The radiation dose record in relation to any person shall be kept up to date, and shall be open to the inspection of that person at all reasonable times.

(4) For the purposes of the radiation dose record a dose received during any period as indicated by a certificate issued in pursuance of Regulation 22 (2) which did not fall wholly within one calendar quarter shall be deemed to have been received at a uniform rate on all the days (whether working days or not) throughout that period.

24. (1) Whenever any person has reasonable cause to believe in relation to himself or any other person employed—

(

a

) that he has received any radiation dose in excess of that permitted under the First Schedule to these Regulations, or

(

b

) that he has inhaled or ingested or otherwise absorbed a significant amount of any radioactive substance, or

(

c

) that contamination to a level greater than ten times the level specified for the body in the Second Schedule to these Regulations has persisted on any part of his body for more than three days,

he shall report the circumstances to the occupier who shall forthwith make an investigation or arrange for an investigation to be made.

(2) Where any investigation under paragraph (1) of this regulation confirms a report made under that paragraph or the occupier has other reason to believe that any person employed has suffered any of the events specified in that paragraph, the occupier shall forthwith—

(

a

) notify the appointed doctor,

(

b

) notify the Minister, and

(

c

) keep a record of the circumstances as respects that person.

(3) Whenever it appears from the radiation dose record that any worker has received a radiation dose in excess of that permitted under the First Schedule to these Regulations, the occupier shall forthwith—

(

a

) make an investigation or arrange for an investigation to be made,

(

b

) notify the appointed doctor, and

(

c

) notify the Minister.

25. (1) Whenever the occupier has reasonable cause to believe that any person has received during any period during which a film or dosemeter is required to be worn by that person in pursuance of these Regulations, a radiation dose which is significantly greater or significantly less than the dose indicated by any certificate issued in accordance with these Regulations in relation to the films or dosemeters worn by him during that period, the occupier shall make an investigation or arrange for an investigation to be made and where any such investigation confirms his belief the occupier shall apply to the Minister for approval of a special entry and any such special entry so approved shall be made in that person's radiation dose record.

(2) Whenever the Minister has reason to believe that any person has received, during any period during which a film or dosemeter is required to be worn by that person in pursuance of these Regulations, a radiation dose which is significantly greater or significantly less than the dose indicated by any certificate issued in accordance with these Regulations in relation to the films or dosemeters worn by him during that period, the Minister may approve a special entry and any such special entry so approved shall be made in that person's radiation dose record.

26. (1) Where any person, in relation to whom an employer is or has been required to keep a radiation dose record, ceases to be employed by that employer, that employer shall forthwith prepare a transfer record in the approved form. The employer, if he knows the whereabouts of that person, shall forthwith supply him with the transfer record and shall in any case forthwith send a copy of it to the Minister.

(2) Before any person who was previously in protected employment with another employer is employed, or engaged for employment, as a classified worker, that person shall—

(

a

) notify his employer or, as the case may be, prospective employer, of the said previous protected employment, and

(

b

) if he has received from his employer in that previous employment a transfer record and that record is still in his possession, produce it to his employer or, as the case may be, prospective employer, and make it available to the appointed doctor. In the event of that person being employed, or engaged for employment, as a classified worker the transfer record shall be handed to and retained by the employer.

(3) When the occupier is aware that any person employed or engaged for employment, as a classified worker was previously in protected employment with another employer and that person does not produce a transfer record in pursuance of the last foregoing paragraph of this regulation, the occupier shall forthwith apply to the Minister for a copy of that record.

PART VMEDICAL SUPERVISION

27. The occupier shall make arrangements for medical supervision by the appointed doctor of all classified workers, including specific arrangements as provided for in this part of these Regulations.

28. (1) For the purpose of examinations conducted at the factory the occupier shall provide, for the exclusive use of the appointed doctor on the occasion of the examination, a room properly cleaned and adequately warmed and lighted and furnished with a screen, a table with writing materials, chairs, an examination couch and a wash basin with a supply of clean, running hot and cold or warm water.

(2) The occupier shall afford to the appointed doctor adequate facilities for inspecting any process, operation or work in which a person examined or to be examined by the appointed doctor has been, is or is to be, employed.

29. (1) No person shall be employed in a factory as a classified worker unless—

(

a

) within the period of fourteen months immediately preceding his first employment in the factory, he has been examined by an appointed doctor and certified fit, by signed entry by the said doctor in the health register, for employment as a classified worker, and

(

b

) he has at some time undergone a suitable blood examination and an adequate report of the results of such examination is available and known to the said doctor.

(2) In this regulation, the expression "first employment in the factory" means first employment in that factory as a classified worker or re-employment in that factory as a classified worker following any cessation of such employment therein for a period exceeding fourteen months.

30. The occupier shall arrange for medical examination by the appointed doctor of every worker who is a classified worker once in every calendar year so long as his employment as a classified worker continues, if it appears from his radiation dose record that during the immediately preceding calendar year he has received a sum of radiation doses which is greater than three-tenths of the appropriate doses specified in the First Schedule to these Regulations.

31. Where the occupier has notified the appointed doctor of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Regulation 24 the occupier shall arrange for the person concerned to undergo without delay a medical examination by the appointed doctor in any case where the excessive radiation dose either—

(

a

) exceeds 10 rems in the case of a dose to parts of the body other than the hands, forearms, feet and ankles from all or any one or more of the following, that is to say, X-rays, gamma rays and neutrons, or

(

b

) in any other case exceeds the doses specified in the First Schedule to these Regulations.

32. (1) Except where otherwise authorised or directed in writing by the Minister, any medical examination by the appointed doctor for the purposes of these Regulations shall take place at the factory.

(2) Due notice of every medical examination for the purposes of these Regulations shall be given by the occupier to those concerned and it shall be the duty of the persons employed as classified workers to submit themselves for examination by the appointed doctor in accordance with these Regulations as required by such notice and for any special examination required under Regulation 33 (1) and to submit to the taking of samples for every blood examination the results of which are used for the purposes of these Regulations.

33. (1) The appointed doctor may at his discretion, in relation to any medical examination for the purposes of these Regulations, require an examination of the blood or any other special examination. Any such special examination may be carried out at a place other than the factory.

(2) Every blood examination for the purposes of these Regulations shall be made by an approved laboratory or an approved person.

(3) The report of every such blood examination as aforesaid shall be sent to the appointed doctor.

34. (1) The appointed doctor shall have power to be exercised by written certificate in the health register signed by him, to suspend from employment as a classified worker or from work in total enclosures, active areas, decontamination areas, tracer areas or radiation areas any worker examined by him under these Regulations.

(2) No person so suspended shall be re-employed as a classified worker or in total enclosures, active areas, decontamination areas, tracer areas or radiation areas (as the case may be) without the written approval of the appointed doctor entered in the health register.

(3) The occupier shall forthwith notify the Minister whenever any work is suspended from employment in accordance with these Regulations.

35. (1) A health register shall be kept in the approved form of all classified workers and the appointed doctor shall enter in the health register the dates and results of examinations of those persons.

(2) The appointed doctor shall by signed entry in the health register record the date and result of any medical examination under Regulation 31 of any worker other than a classified worker.

PART VIARRANGEMENTS OF PREMISES AND PLANT

36. (1) There shall, where reasonably practicable, be a barrier or barriers marking the boundaries of every active area and every radiation area or where the use of such barrier or barriers is not reasonably practicable the said boundaries shall be marked by other suitable means.

(2) Suitable notices warning persons in the vicinity shall be displayed at a sufficient number of suitable places on or near to the boundaries of all total enclosures, active areas, radiation areas and tracer areas.

37. Where necessary for the protection of persons employed, work with any unsealed radioactive substance (other than tracer work) shall be carried on—

(

a

) so far as practicable, within total enclosures or fume cupboard, or

(

b

) where the provision of total enclosures or fume cupboards is not reasonably practicable, with the use under such arrangements as are practicable of an exhaust draught produced by mechanical means and discharged to the open air so as to reduce as far as possible the risk of contamination or inhalation or ingestion of airborne or gaseous radioactive substances.

38. (1) Where practicable, the floor of every active area shall—

(

a

) have an impervious surface,

(

b

) be capable of being easily and effectively cleaned and of containing any spill of any unsealed radioactive substance, and

(

c

) be kept free from any obstruction.

(2) All benches, tables and seats in every active area shall so far as is reasonably practicable, have impervious surfaces and be capable of being easily and effectively cleaned.

(3) Every bench and table within an active area which is used for work with radioactive substance shall be kept free from articles not required for the work carried on at that bench or table and any such bench or table at which more than one person is employed shall have sufficient unobstructed working space for each person.

39. (1) Suitable accommodation shall be provided and maintained for the storage of the personal protective equipment required to be provided under Regulation 41 (1). The accommodation shall be kept in a clean and orderly condition and shall be separate from that provided for clothing not worn during working hours.

(2) The accommodation provided under paragraph (1) of this regulation for personal protective equipment which is liable to be contaminated to a level in excess of the levels specified for category B in the Second Schedule to these Regulations shall be—

(

a

) where reasonably practicable so situated as to allow the persons using the accommodation to use the washing facilities provided in pursuance of Regulation 40 in the course of changing their clothes, and

(

b

) situated as close as practicable to the area where the work is carried on for which the personal protective equipment is required.

40. (1) There shall be provided and maintained for the use of all persons working in active areas, decontamination or total enclosures or at or in fume cupboards, adequate and suitable facilities for washing which shall be kept in a clean and orderly condition and be under cover and shall be immediately or conveniently accessible from the workplace. The said facilities shall include clean running hot and cold or warm water, soap, non-abrasive nail brushes and clean towels, and, in addition, either—

(

a

) a trough with smooth impervious surface of such length (or, in the case of a circular or oval trough, of such circumference) as to allow sixty centimetres for every five persons and fitted with suitable jets or sprays serving each sixty centimetres of length or circumference (as the case may be) and with a waste pipe without plug; or

(

b

) for every five persons at least one basin with smooth impervious surface of suitable size fitted with suitable jets or sprays and with a waste pipe.

(2) The provisions of this paragraph modify the provisions of section 53 (1) of the Act in relation to persons working in places to which that section applies, being persons for whom washing facilities are required to be provided under paragraph (1) of this regulation.

(3) Where the washing facilities provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of this regulation are not immediately accessible from any workplace, there shall be provided at the work place for use in cases of emergency appropriate means (including a supply of clean water) for cleansing the skin.

(4) All jets and sprays provided as part of the washing facilities under paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be such that they can be conveniently operated without using the hands.

(5) The name or names or designation of the person or persons authorised for the purpose of Regulations 45 (1) and 55 (1) shall be kept prominently displayed near every washing facility provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of this regulation.

(6) Every person shall be allowed sufficient time in the course of his work for washing as required by these Regulations.

PART VIIPERSONAL PROTECTION

41. (1) Suitable personal protective equipment shall be provided and properly maintained for the use of all persons employed in work in active areas, tracer areas, decontamination areas, total enclosures or at or in fume cupboards. The protective equipment provided shall include—

(

a

) protective clothes adequate to prevent any contamination of the bodies of the persons for whom it is provided or of their other clothing to a level in excess of the appropriate level specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations, and

(

b

) a sufficient supply of breathing apparatus, where necessary, to prevent risk resulting from inhalation or ingestion of any radioactive substance.

(2) The breathing apparatus provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be thoroughly examined before its first issue for use and thereafter at least once a month, by a person competent to make such an examination. A report shall be made on every such examination, signed by the person making the examination and containing the particulars for the time being prescribed for a report on an examination under section 38 (1) (

c

) (which requires the provision of breathing apparatus) of the Act, and shall be kept available for inspection : Provided that an examination and report in accordance with this regulation shall, in the case of breathing apparatus which is kept in store and has not been issued for use, be required once in every six months.

(3) Every breathing apparatus provided in accordance with paragraph (1) (

b

) of this regulation shall carry a distinguishing mark and no person shall wear or be required to wear any such breathing apparatus which has previously been worn by another person, unless it has been thoroughly disinfected.

(4) Every person while engaged in work for use in the course of which personal protective equipment has been provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of this regulation shall wear the personal protective equipment provided for his use in the course of that work.

(5) Every person leaving work for use in the course of which personal protective equipment is provided in accordance with paragraph (1) of this regulation shall forthwith deposit his personal protective equipment in the accommodation provided for it in pursuance of Regulation 39 (1) and then wash his hands.

(6) No person shall place his head inside a fume cupboard unless he is wearing protective equipment.

(7) After any person has washed his hands in accordance with paragraph (5) of this regulation or with Regulation 43 (1) an appropriate measurement shall be made without delay, if necessary to ensure that any contamination of his hands to a level in excess of the appropriate level specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations is detected : Provided that if in any case the only radioactive substance from which there is a liability to contamination of any person is a luminising compound, it shall be a sufficient compliance with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph in that case to make an appropriate examination by means of an ultra violet lamp without delay of the hands of every such person.

(8) If contamination of any person is detected as a result of any measurement or examination in pursuance of paragraph (7) of this regulation, such steps shall be taken by that person as are reasonably practicable to remove the contamination.

(9) It shall be the duty of every person employed to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (4) to (8) of this regulation in so far as he is affected thereby and to submit himself to measurement or examination in accordance with those provisions.

42. A person having any cut or other break in his skin shall not work in any active area, decontamination area, tracer area or total enclosure or at or in a fume cupboard unless that cut or other break in his skin is so covered as to prevent the entry of any radioactive substance.

43. (1) A person working in any active area, decontamination area, tracer area or total enclosure or at or in a fume cupboard shall not—

(

a

) make use of a sanitary convenience unless, since last working as aforesaid, he has washed his hands,

(

b

) partake of food or drink or snuff or make use of cosmetics or tobacco in such an area as aforesaid, except that a person may drink from a drinking fountain so constructed that there is no risk of contamination of the water,

(

c

) make use there of any pocket handkerchief other than a paper handkerchief, or

(

d

) operate in such an area by means of his mouth any plant, apparatus or equipment.

(2) An adequate and convenient supply of suitable paper handkerchiefs shall be provided for use in accordance with paragraph (1) (

c

) of this regulation. Arrangements shall be made for the deposit of the used paper handkerchiefs in a suitable receptacle provided for the purpose in the workroom or in, or adjacent to, the accommodation provided in pursuance of Regulation 39 (1) for protective equipment. Such receptacles shall be emptied at least once on every working day and the used handkerchiefs shall be treated as contaminated articles in accordance with regulation 48.

44. (1) Brushes shall not be used for the application of luminising compounds.

(2) Brushes used for the application of radioactive substances other than luminising compounds shall be used only in total enclosures.

45. (1) When any person during his work in an active area, decontamination area, tracer area or total enclosure or at or in a fume cupboard sustains any cut or other break in the skin, he shall promptly present himself to an authorised person, who shall ensure that appropriate first-aid treatment is given and that, in the giving of such treatment, account is taken of any contamination present in or around the cut or break in the skin, or on the instrument (if any) which caused it. Where any such contamination is present, the occurance shall be notified forthwith to the competent person.

(2) The contents of any first-aid box or cupboard required by or under the Act shall include an adequate supply of appropriate waterproof dressings.

PART VIIIORGANISATION OF WORK

46. (1) The occupier shall keep a record of all radioactive substances received into the factory and, so far as is reasonably practicable, of their subsequent disposal.

(2) It shall be the duty of every person employed to notify the competent person forthwith if he has reasonable grounds for believing that any unsealed radioactive substance has been lost or mislaid. The competent person shall take immediate steps with a view to finding the substance. If the substance is not accounted for within twenty-four hours the occupier shall notify the Minister forthwith.

47. (1) Unsealed radioactive substances when not in use shall where reasonably practicable be kept in appropriate protective receptacles which shall be kept securely in a suitable store reserved for the storage of radioactive substances.

(2) Adequate and suitable arrangement shall be made, where necessary, for ventilating every such store to the open air by mechanical means in order to protect the persons employed from airborne or gaseous radioactive substances.

(3) A suitable warning notice shall be kept prominently displayed outside every store which contains an amount of unsealed radioactive substance of which the total activity exceeds the amount specified in Regulation 4 (1).

48. (1) No unsealed radioactive substance and no plant, apparatus, equipment, material or article, being plant, apparatus, equipment, material or an article which is contaminated to a level in excess of the levels specified for category D in the Second Schedule to these Regulations shall be transported within a factory (other than within an active area) unless it is transported—

(

a

) in a suitable container which shall, where necessary, be so designed and constructed as to prevent the spread of contamination or of airborne or gaseous radioactive substances,

(

b

) by, or under the immediate supervision of an authorised person, and

(

c

) in such a way that the person receiving it is made aware that what he is receiving is an unsealed radioactive substance or is contaminated (as the case may be).

(2) Before being despatched from the factory any article which consists of or contains an amount of radionuclides in unsealed radioactive substance exceeding the amounts specified in Regulation 4 (1) or consists of or contains any object contaminated to a level in excess of the levels specified for category D in the Second Schedule to these Regulations, shall be labelled so as to indicate that it is such an article.

49. (1) The amounts of unsealed radioactive substances in any active area, decontamination area, radiation area, tracer area, total enclosure or fume cupboard shall be kept to the minima reasonably practicable.

(2) Where the amount of fissile substance present in a factory at any time is sufficient under any possible conditions to enable a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction to occur, effective precautions shall be taken to prevent it from occurring. Nothing in this paragraph shall apply to self-sustaining reactions that have been designed and intended as such.

50. (1) The working arrangements shall be such that, in the event of a spill, dispersal of the unsealed radioactive substances shall be prevented so far as is reasonably practicable.

(2) Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent an unintended build-up of pressure inside containers for unsealed radioactive substances.

(3) Containers for unsealed radioactive substances shall so far as practicable be so designed and constructed that their contents cannot escape accidentally.

51. (1) Whenever (otherwise than within a total enclosure or a fume cupboard) there is a spill or other accidental escape of unsealed radioactive substances which there is reason to believe have a total activity greater than 10 microcuries of a Class I radionuclide, 1 millicurie of a Class II radionuclide, 100 millicuries of a Class III radionuclide or 10 curies of a Class IV radionuclide, or in the case of gaseous radioactive substances, one-tenth of each of these amounts, no person (other than properly trained and equipped persons who enter or remain therein solely for the purpose of dealing with the spill or escape) shall enter or remain in the area affected until an authorised person has declared that in his opinion it is safe to do so. A record shall be made in a register kept for this purpose of the date, nature and place of the spill or other accidental escape.

(2) It shall be the duty of every person employed to notify the occupier forthwith if he has reasonable grounds for believing that there has been a spill or other accidental escape of unsealed radioactive substances to which the provisions of the foregoing paragraph of this regulation apply.

52. (1) All active areas and tracer areas and all plant, apparatus and equipment therein or which has been therein shall be cleaned often enough to ensure that any contamination of them does not exceed the appropriate levels specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) The cleaning of active areas and tracer and plant apparatus and equipment shall be done by methods which avoid, so far as is practicable, the spread of contamination and the dispersal of unsealed radioactive substances in the general air of any room.

(3) Materials and articles which have been used for cleaning as required by this regulation and are contaminated—

(

a

) shall not be used for any other purpose (except for the purpose of cleaning in pursuance of Regulation 58) and

(

b

) shall, when stored or being transported within a factory, be treated as if they were unsealed radioactive substances.

53. (1) A person shall not break the containment of any total enclosure or enter any total enclosure or fume cupboard in which, in any such case, there is or is liable to be contamination to a level in excess of the levels specified for category B in the Second Schedule to these Regulations or enter any ducting or drains leading into or from such an enclosure or cupboard unless there is in force in respect of that person written permission in accordance with paragraph (2) of this regulation for him to do so.

(2) Every written permission issued for the purposes of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall state—

(

a

) the name of the person or persons in respect of whom it is issued,

(

b

) the enclosure, cupboard and work to which it relates,

(

c

) any special conditions under which the work is to be carried out,

(

d

) the period (not exceeding seven days or such longer period as may be approved) for which it is valid, and

(

e

) the date of its issue,

and shall be signed by the competent person or by a person authorised in that behalf by the competent person and countersigned by the supervisor, foreman or other person in charge of the place in which the work is to be carried out.

PART IXMONITORING AND MEASURES TO DEAL WITH CONTAMINATION

54. (1) The occupier shall ensure that there is provided and properly maintained an appropriate and efficient dosemeter or dose rate meter by means of which appropriate measurements shall be made at such intervals as are necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the efficacy of methods for the restriction of exposure to, and for shielding against, ionising radiations.

(2) Save as provided in paragraph (4) of this regulation, the occupier shall ensure that they are provided and properly maintained such instruments as may be necessary to measure contamination of the surface of the body, of clothing and of personal protective equipment. Appropriate measurements shall be made at sufficiently frequent intervals to ensure that any such contamination to a level in excess of the appropriate level specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations is detected as soon as is reasonably practicable. The name or names or designations of the person or persons authorised for the purposes of Regulation 55 (1) shall be kept prominently displayed near every instrument provided in pursuance of this paragraph.

(3) Save as provided in paragraph (4) of this regulation the occupier shall ensure that there are provided and properly maintained such instruments as may be necessary to measure contamination in any part of the premises and appropriate measurements shall be made at sufficiently frequent intervals to ensure that any such contamination to a level in excess of the appropriate level specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations is detected as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(4) Where the only radioactive substance in a factory is a luminising compound it shall be a sufficient compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation if the occupier provides and properly maintains an ultra violet lamp suitable for detecting any contamination by a luminising compound.

(5) The occupier shall, where necessary, ensure that there is provided and properly maintained an appropriate and efficient instrument by means of which appropriate measurements shall be made at such intervals as are necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the efficacy of measures for the protection of persons employed from airborne or gaseous radioactive substances.

(6) Any dosemeter, dose rate meter or other instrument provided under this regulation may be provided for use in more than one factory.

(7) The occupier shall ensure that every such radiation dosemeter, dose rate meter and other instrument when first taken into use in the factory or as the case may be, in the first of the factories for which it is provided, has been tested by a qualified person, and that it is subsequently re-tested by a qualified person at least once in every period of fourteen months and also after any repair of a defect which could affect its accuracy. There shall be kept a register in the approved form of every test carried out in pursuance of this paragraph.

(8) All measurements under this regulation shall be made by or under the general supervision of the competent person.

55. (1) Whenever it is found that any part of the body of any person employed is contaminated to a level in excess of the level specified for the body in the Second Schedule to these Regulations, and that the contamination cannot be reduced by the means provided so that it does not exceed the level so specified, that person shall at once report those facts to an authorised person.

(2) Upon such facts coming to the knowledge of any authorised person, he shall notify the competent person and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to seek to reduce the contamination so that it shall not exceed the level so specified.

56. Whenever a measurement made in accordance with Regulation 54 (2) shows that any personal protective equipment deposited or about to be deposited in the accommodation provided under Regulation 39 (1) is contaminated to a level in excess of the levels specified for category B in the Second Schedule to these Regulations, that equipment shall be deposited in a receptacle provided for that purpose and shall not be used until the contamination on it has been reduced so that it does not exceed the levels so specified.

57. Whenever any personal clothing is found to be contaminated to a level in excess of the appropriate level specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations it shall not be worn until the contamination on it has been reduced so that it does not exceed the level so specified.

58. Whenever there is found to be contamination to a level in excess of the appropriate level specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations (other than contamination of the body, personal protective equipment or personal clothing) immediate effective steps shall be taken to prevent dispersal of the unsealed radioactive substances causing the contamination and cleaning or other treatment shall be carried out as soon as reasonably practicable so that the contamination is reduced to a level which does not exceed the level so specified.

Regulations

13 (2), 18 (1), 20 (2),

23 (1), 24 (1), 24 (3),

30 and 31.

FIRST SCHEDULE

MAXIMUM RADIATION DOSES

S.I. No. 249 of 1972.

FACTORIES IONISING RADIATIONS (UNSEALED RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS, 1972.

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

PART I

PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL

Regulation