Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Denmark (Ratification: 1974)

1. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State Institute for Radiation Hygiene of the National Board of Health (SIS) has issued Order No. 823 of 31 October 1997, on dose limits for ionizing radiation, which has been elaborated on the basis of the European Community Directive 96/29 EURATOM, and which, for its part, is in line with the Recommendations adopted by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 1990. Section 3 of the above Order, read together with its Annex 1, reflects entirely the dose limits recommended by the ICRP for occupational exposure to ionizing radiations of the different categories of workers, which thus applies Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

2. Scope of emergency work. The Committee notes with satisfaction that section 6 of Order No. 823 of 31 October 1997, repealing Notification No. 838 of 1986, limitsthe scope of emergency interventions where exceptional exposure of workers is justified to life-saving actions, actions necessary to prevent a significant exposure to radiation of the public, or to prevent the development of a catastrophe. Moreover, section 6 fixes the exposure levels at 50 mSv during an emergency, which is even lower than the dose limit recommended by the ICRP for the carrying out of immediate and urgent remedial work.

The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government on another point.