CMNT_TITLE

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Syrian Arab Republic (RATIFICATION: 1964)

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.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report in reply to its previous comments regarding Article 8 of the Convention (appropriate levels of exposure for workers not directly engaged in radiation work).

Articles 2 and 3. Application of the Convention to all activities involving exposure of workers to ionizing radiations in the course of their work. Measures to ensure protection of workers in the light of knowledge available. Occupational exposure limits during emergency situations. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria is responsible for measuring and monitoring radiation levels in the workplace and for carrying out inspections in undertakings where activities involve exposure of workers to ionizing radiation. In this respect, the Committee would like to draw the attention of the Government to paragraphs 17–23 and 36–37 of its 2015 general observation, where it indicates that individual exposure in emergency situations should be optimized, with appropriate boundaries of reference levels. Such reference levels should be selected to be within, or if possible below, the 20–100 mSv band. Measures are to be taken to ensure that no emergency worker is subject to an exposure in an emergency in excess of 50 mSv. In exceptional situations, informed emergency workers may volunteer to receive a higher dose only: (a) for the purposes of saving a life or preventing serious injury; (b) when undertaking actions to prevent severe deterministic effects and actions to prevent the development of catastrophic conditions that could significantly affect people and the environment; or (c) when undertaking actions to avert a large collective dose. Response organizations (as defined in note No. 19 of the general observation, “A response organization is an organization designated or otherwise recognized by a State as being responsible for managing or implementing any aspect of an emergency response”) and employers should ensure that emergency workers who undertake actions in exceptional circumstances in which the doses received might exceed 50 mSv do so voluntarily, have been clearly and comprehensively informed in advance of the associated health risks, as well as of available measures for protection and safety and that they are, to the extent possible, trained in the actions they may be required to take. Therefore, acknowledging the difficult situation in the country, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the boundaries of reference levels for the exposure of workers in emergency situations, as well as the exceptional circumstances and the conditions in which emergency workers might be subject to an exposure in excess of 50 mSv.