The Radiation Emergency and Consultation Regulations 2021

Jurisdiction: UK

Commencement: 1^st November 2021

Amends:

• The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019
• The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009

Mini Summary

The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 transfer the emergency preparedness and response elements of Directive 2013/59/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation (“Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive”) for premises in which work with ionising radiation takes place.

The Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive establishes basic safety standards for the protection of the health of individuals subject to occupational, medical and public exposures against the dangers arising from ionising radiation.

The aim is that they will strengthen Great Britain’s emergency preparedness and response arrangements for radiological emergencies. It will also improve public protection and reduce adverse consequences in the event of an emergency.

These Regulations apply to any work with ionising radiation which involves a radioactive substance containing more than the quantity specified in relation to radionuclide (is an atom that has excess nuclear energy, making it unstable) in Schedule 1, or in the case of fissile material (fissile materials are composed of atoms that can be split by neutrons in a self-sustaining chain-reaction to release enormous amounts of energy), more than the mass of that material specified in Schedule 2.  They do not apply where the operator can demonstrate that the quantity present on the premises would not allow, in a radiation emergency, an annual effective dose to persons off-site of more than 1 mSv (millisievert – unit of measurement for the effective dose of radiation absorbed by the body).

These Regulations do not apply in respect of:

• any non-dispersible source;
• any radioactive substance which has an activity of not more than 100Bqg-1;
• any radioactive substance conforming to the specifications for special form radioactive material set out in sub section 2.7.2.3.3. Of the UN Model Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods:Model Regulations, as revised or reissued from time to time;
• any radioactive substance which is in a package which complies with the requirements for a Type B(U) package, a Type B(M) package or a Type C package as set out in subsections 6.4.8, 6.4.9 or 6.4.10 of the UN Model Regulations respectively.

(i.e. radiation that carries enough energy to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionising them)

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 The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (“CDG”) govern:

• carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail (and carriage of ‘class 7’ radioactive materials by inland waterway);
• transportable pressure equipment (such as gas cylinders);
• arrangements for radiological emergencies related to transportation; and
• competent authorities for and enforcement of the above.

CDG implements Directive 2008/68/EC on the Inland Transport of Dangerous Goods (“Dangerous Goods Directive”) and revokes The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007. The 2008 Directive required Member States to implement into national legislation the requirements of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (“ADR”) and the Regulation Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (“RID”). CDG implements the Directive by making the provisions of ADR and RID enforceable in Great Britain.

CDG also re-transposes Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment. (Note that the Directive has since been replaced by Directive 2010/35/EU on transportable pressure equipment, which has in turn by transposed by The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2011).
CDG also transposes parts of:

• Directive 89/618/Euratom  on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency; and
• Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation;

both of which relate to measures to be taken in connection with a radiological emergency.

Amendment

Link to full government text

 

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