CMNT_TITLE

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Jersey

General observation of 2015. The Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to its general observation of 2015 under this Convention, and in particular to the request for information contained in paragraph 30 thereof.

Article 14 of the Convention. Discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation pursuant to medical advice and alternative employment. The Committee previously requested the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that workers medically advised to cease radiation work are prohibited from such employment. It notes the Government’s reply in this regard that, pursuant to the Approved Code of Practice on Work with Ionising Radiation, the Health and Safety Inspectorate must be notified if any of the dose limits specified in the Code are exceeded. If an employer were to continue to require employees who have reached their individual dose limits to perform work with ionizing radiations, an investigation would be carried out by the Inspectorate. The investigations could lead to the issuance of a legal notice formally prohibiting the employee concerned from continuing work with ionizing radiations, and refer the matter to the Attorney General, who could initiate a prosecution. The Government also indicates that there have been no cases notified to the Inspectorate of employees reaching their individual dose limits. The Committee recalls that Article 14 of the Convention provides that no worker shall continue to be employed in work by reason of which the worker could be subject to exposure to ionizing radiations contrary to qualified medical advice. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to ensure that a worker whose individual dose does not exceed the limits prescribed, but who nonetheless, according to qualified medical advice, cannot continue to be employed in work involving exposure to ionizing radiations, does not engage further in such work.