1.0 Legislation

1.1 From 1st January 2000 the University became subject to the Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR) 1999. These regulations form part of the legislation to protect individuals from injury at their place of work and are made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They supplant the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985. Anyone working with radioactive substances or equipment that produces ionising radiations is subject to these regulations.

1.2 Radiation protection is based on three general principles:

  • every practice resulting in an exposure to ionising radiation shall be justified by the advantages it produces;
  • all exposures shall be kept as low as reasonably achievable;
  • the sum of the effective dose equivalent from external radiation and the committed dose equivalent from that year's intake of radionuclides shall not exceed certain limits.

1.3 In addition to these regulations the University is still subject to the Radioactive Substances Act (RSA) 1961 & 1994, and the Environment Act 1995 which controls our holdings of radioactive materials and their disposal. Disposal requires that the Best Practical Means (BPM) are employed to minimise environmental impact, and that the Best Practical Environmental Option (BPEO) be found for all radionuclide disposals.

1.4 The Health and Safety Executive administers and checks compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations, and is the Enforcing Authority. The Radioactive Substances Act and the Environment Act are administered and enforced by the Environment Agency.

1.5 In addition, the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 must be complied with.

In this Code: