Press Release C011:00 - 3 April 2000 Working with ionising radiation: Code of Practice and guidance published The Health & Safety Commission (HSC), today published an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and HSE guidance on work with ionising radiation. This provides practical help for employers who need to comply with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) which mostly came into force on 1 January 2000. The ACoP and guidance will assist employers in their primary duties under IRR99 to: undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment before starting any new type of work with ionising radiation; restrict exposure to ionising radiations: firstly, through engineered means such as the use of adequate shielding, safety devices, containment and ventilation where these are reasonably practicable. Also by the provision of systems of work and personal protective equipment as far as reasonably practicable; maintain and examine engineering controls and personal protective equipment; consider the risks to pregnant and breast-feeding employees and alter working conditions where appropriate; consult (and appoint) one or more suitable radiation protection advisers as necessary; designate controlled and supervised areas where necessary; implement new dose limits; and make arrangements for designating certain employees as classified persons, arranging for the assessment and recording of doses they receive and medical surveillance. The ACoP and guidance were prepared for HSC by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), after widespread consultation with industry. Other freestanding guidance on specific topics will be published by HSE over the coming months. Further information on ionising radiations is available on HSE's web site. NOTES TO EDITORS 1. ACoPs have a special legal status and give practical advice on complying with the law. Employers following this advice will normally be doing enough to comply with the requirements. However, alternative methods may be used. If employers are prosecuted for breaching safety law and it is proved they did not follow the relevant ACoP provisions, they will need to show they complied with the law in some other way which is as good as or better than the advice in the ACoP, or a court may find them at fault. The ACoP also includes guidance which, although not compulsory, safety inspectors may refer to as illustrating good practice. 2. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999 No 3232), replaced the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 (S.I. 1985 No 1333), except for the requirement for special hazard assessments (regulation 26 IRR85), and related provisions and the Ionising Radiations (Outside Workers) Regulations 1993 (S.I 1993 No 2379). The regulations came into force on 1 January 2000, except for the requirement on prior authorisation, which takes effect from 13 May 2000. 3. Ionising radiations are used in a wide range of work activities. These include: the nuclear industry; medical/dental uses; manufacturing; construction; engineering; paper; offshore; education (colleges, schools) and non-destructive testing. 4. Further information can be found on the 'Ionising Radiation' web site: http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/iradiat.htm 'Work with Ionising Radiations: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance' ISBN 0-7176-1746-7 (Ref. L121) is available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995. price £20 PUBLIC ENQUIRIES:> Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 0541-545500 or write to: HSE Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ.