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

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Articles 3(1), 6, 7 and 8 of the Convention. Appropriate steps taken to ensure effective protection of workers, in light of knowledge available at the time. Maximum permissible doses of ionising radiation. With regard to its previous comments on the review of the Approved Code of Practice relating to the Protection of Persons against Ionising Radiations of 1995 (ACoP), the Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that it plans to mirror the United Kingdom Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017, which implements the Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 2013, laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation. The Committee also notes that, according to the information available on the Government’s website, while there are no immediate plans to update Guernsey's Safety of Employees (Ionising Radiations) Ordinance 1967, the Health and Safety Executive of Guernsey (HSE) benchmarks the health and safety arrangements against, inter alia, relevant United Kingdom legislation and approved codes of practice. For work with ionising radiations, it treats the United Kingdom Approved Code of Practice on the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 as the appropriate standard to be achieved for Guernsey and Alderney medical, dental and veterinary providers and other ionising radiation users. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in the review of its system of protection of workers against ionising radiations in the light of current knowledge, including the ACoP. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide, in particular, up to date information concerning the establishment of a prohibition on the engagement of workers under the age of 16 in work involving ionising radiation (Article 7(2) of the Convention) and the fixing of dose levels of ionising radiation for workers not directly engaged in radiation work, but who remain or pass where they may be exposed to ionising radiations or radioactive substances (Article 8 of the Convention).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

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

Articles 3(1) and 6(2) of the Convention. Steps taken to ensure protection of workers, in light of available knowledge. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that it intended to undertake a review, in 2010, of the Approved Code of Practice relating to the Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations of 1995.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that the review of the Code of Practice has been delayed. However, the Government still intends to undertake the review, taking into account the provisions of the Convention and other international standards. The Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will ensure that the provisions of the Convention are taken into account during the review of the Code of Practice, in particular with respect to Article 6(2) of the Convention, on maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations; Article 7(2) on employment of young workers under the age of 16; and Article 8 on maximum permissible doses for workers not directly engaged in radiation work. It invites the Government to refer to the guidance contained in the general observation of 2015, and requests it to provide a copy of the revised Code of Practice once it has been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s latest report, indicating that the review of the Approved Code of Practice relating to the Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiation has been scheduled in the department’s business plan for completion by the second quarter of 2010. The Committee hopes the Government will ensure that provisions of the Convention, and the information contained in the Committee’s 1992 General Observation on the Convention, will be taken into account during the review of the Code of Practice, in particular with regards to Articles 3(1) and 6(2) of the Convention, on maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations; Article 7(2) on employment of young workers under the age of 16; and Article 8 on maximum permissible doses for workers not directly engaged in radiation work. The Committee requests the Government to provide the Office with a copy of the Approved Code of Practice once it has been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Commerce and Employment Department will take measures to update the Approved Code of Practice entitled “The Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations” and hopes this will be done in the near future and that the Office will be provided with a copy once it has been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

1. The Committee takes note of the Government’s latest report. It notes with interest the information concerning the application of Article 12 of the Convention.

2. Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the approved code of practice entitled "The Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations" (ACoP) was adopted in 1995. The ACoP would, however, be revised in the light of the revised 1985 Ionizing Radiation Regulations (SI 1985 No. 13333) of the United Kingdom and its codes of practice. The Committee hopes that the revised ACoP will entirely reflect the maximum permissible dose limits for workers’ exposure to ionizing radiation, in accordance with the recommendations issued in 1990 by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources sponsored in 1994 by the IAEA, the ILO, the WHO and three other international organizations, to give effect to Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. It also hopes that the ACoP will prohibit, in conformity with Article 7, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the employment of young workers under the age of 16.

3. Article 8. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government according to which persons who are not directly engaged in radiation work, but who remain or pass where they may be exposed, must not be exposed to more than three-tenths of the dose limits specified in Appendix 1 of the ACoP. The Committee observes that the level of exposure specified in Appendix 1 to the ACoP for persons not directly engaged in radiation work, exceeds, contrary to this provision of the Convention, the annual limit of 1 mSv established by the ICRP in its 1990 recommendations. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to give full effect to this provision of the Convention. It finally requests the Government to supply a copy of the revised approved code of practice for further examination as soon as it has been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1.  Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention.  The Committee notes that the Government indicates, in its 1995 report, that the technical subcommittee of the Board has resolved to issue an approved Code of Practice, under the Health and Safety at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1987. Noting also that the current annual dose limits applicable are set at 50 mSv per year for workers aged 18 or over, and 15 mSv for workers under the age of 18, the Committee hopes that the Government will be soon in a position to indicate the adoption of new limits, in accordance with the recommendations issued in 1990 by the International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Basic Safety Standards jointly sponsored in 1994 by the IAEA, WHO, ILO, and three other international organizations which are based on the ICRP recommendations.

2.  Article 7, paragraph 2.  The Committee notes from the Government’s report that there are no provisions which expressly prohibit the employment of workers under the age of 16 in work involving radiation. It requests the Government to supply information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure that effect is given to this provision of the Convention.

3.  Article 8.  The Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to paragraph 14 of its 1992 general observation which concerns dose limits for workers who are not directly engaged in radiation work, but who remain or pass where they may be exposed to ionizing radiation or radioactive substances. The dose limit for these non-radiation workers should be the same as applied to individual members of the public, which is established by the 1990 ICRP recommendations at 1 mSv per year, averaged over five consecutive years. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on dose limits applicable to these non-radiation workers.

4.  Article 12.  The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there is no statutory requirement for medical examinations at the present time. Recalling that, under this Article of the Convention, all workers directly engaged in radiation work shall undergo an appropriate medical examination prior to or shortly after taking up such work and subsequently undergo further medical examinations at appropriate intervals, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the manner in which this Article of the Convention is applied.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

1. Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government indicates, in its 1995 report, that the technical subcommittee of the Board has resolved to issue an approved Code of Practice, under the Health and Safety at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1987. Noting also that the current annual dose limits applicable are set at 50 mSv per year for workers aged 18 or over, and 15 mSv for workers under the age of 18, the Committee hopes that the Government will be soon in a position to indicate the adoption of new limits, in accordance with the recommendations issued in 1990 by the International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Basic Safety Standards jointly sponsored in 1994 by the IAEA, WHO, ILO, and three other international organizations which are based on the ICRP recommendations.

2. Article 7, paragraph 2. The Committee notes from the Government's report that there are no provisions which expressly prohibit the employment of workers under the age of 16 in work involving radiation. It requests the Government to supply information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure that effect is given to this provision of the Convention.

3. Article 8. The Committee would like to draw the Government's attention to paragraph 14 of its 1992 general observation which concerns dose limits for workers who are not directly engaged in radiation work, but who remain or pass where they may be exposed to ionizing radiation or radioactive substances. The dose limit for these non-radiation workers should be the same as applied to individual members of the public, which is established by the 1990 ICRP recommendations at 1 mSv per year, averaged over five consecutive years. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on dose limits applicable to these non-radiation workers.

4. Article 12. The Committee notes the Government's indication that there is no statutory requirement for medical examinations at the present time. Recalling that, under this Article of the Convention, all workers directly engaged in radiation work shall undergo an appropriate medical examination prior to or shortly after taking up such work and subsequently undergo further medical examinations at appropriate intervals, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the manner in which this Article of the Convention is applied.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes with interest the indication in the Government's report that the technical Sub-Committee for the review of the United Kingdom Ionising Radiations Regulations, 1985, has prepared a premilinary draft setting forth requirements similar to those set forth in the regulations. In this regard, the Committee would call the Government's attention to its General Observation under this Convention which sets forth, inter alia, the revised exposure limits established on the basis of new physiological findings by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in its 1990 Recommendations (Publication No. 60). The Committee would recall that, under Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention, all appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure effective protection of workers against ionising radiations and to review maximum permissible doses of ionising radiations in the light of current knowledge. The Government is requested to indicate the steps taken or being considered in relation to the matters raised in the conclusions to the General Observation and the manner in which the current knowledge reflected therein is taken into account in the review of the Radiation Regulations.