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

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - India (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes the information provided with the Government’s report. Further to its previous observation, it draws the Government’s attention to the following points.

1. Articles 3, paragraph 1 and 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the revision of the Radiation Protection Rules, 1971 is still in progress, but that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), being the responsible body for the revision of the above Rules, has implemented in the intervening time the latest Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) concerning permissible levels of exposure to ionizing radiations by means of safety directives. With regard to the dose limits prescribed, the Government indicates that the AERB lowered the annual permissible dose limit of 30 mSv to 10 mSv per year as from 1 January 1999. The Committee notes with interest the new annual dose limit for workers directly engaged in radiation work, since this dose limit is in line with the annual dose limit of 20 mSv prescribed by the ICRP in its 1990 Recommendations to which the Committee refers in its 1992 general observation under the Convention. It accordingly hopes that the dose limit will be maintained in the revised Radiation Protection Rules. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that all cases of exposure above 20 mSv per year were reviewed by an Apex Committee of Specialists. The Committee notes this information with interest and requests the Government to explain the influence of the above described review of exposure on further exposure of workers to ionizing radiations. It also requests the Government to supply a copy of the Safety Directives currently in force. Finally, while hoping that the new Radiation Protection Rules will be adopted in the near future, the Committee asks the Government to transmit a copy as soon as they are adopted.

2. With reference to the comments of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) complaining about the lack of effective enforcement of the legislation on radiation protection by the AERB, owing to organizational weakness, the Government indicates that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s Safety Directives are effectively enforced in various radiation installations and that the AERB issued in November 1996 a manual on radiation protection for nuclear facilities which addresses, inter alia, the regulatory requirements with respect to the employment of temporary workers, as well as the issue of appropriate medical examinations of workers in nuclear installations. The Government further states that all aspects of the enforcement of radiation protection are constantly reviewed by the AERB through a multi-tier process and that compliance with the provisions of the Radiological Safety Directives is monitored by an independent health physics unit. The records on doses received by workers are maintained by nuclear facilities and are being checked during regular inspections. In this context, the Government says that compliance with regulatory requirements by radiation installations has been satisfactory. The Committee, taking note of the information, requests the Government to supply, with its next report, extracts from official reports, including for example inspection reports, in order to enable the Committee to appreciate the manner in which the radiation protection legislation is enforced in practice by the AERB. The Government is also requested to transmit a copy of the manual on radiation protection issued by the AERB in November 1996.

The Committee is raising certain questions in a request addressed directly to the Government.