Last Updated: 1 December 2016

[RH 34] Functions of radiation safety officer34 

34
(1) This section applies if a possession licensee, in accordance with the licence, possesses a radiation source for a radiation practice.
(2) The licensee’s approved radiation safety and protection plan for the practice must state at least the following functions for a radiation safety officer appointed by the licensee for the practice—
  • (a)to identify ways, consistent with the plan, of minimising the radiation doses received by persons from the source;
  • (b)to provide, or arrange for the provision of, training about radiation hazards and safe working practices to—
    • (i)persons carrying out the practice;
    • (ii)the licensee’s employees and other persons working for the licensee who may be exposed to radiation emitted from the source; and
    • (iii)other persons prescribed by regulations;
  • (c)to provide, or arrange for the provision of, training for the persons mentioned in paragraph (b) about precautions that need to be taken to ensure radiation doses received by the persons and other persons from the source, are—
    • (i)for ionising radiation, below the radiation dose limit prescribed under a regulation and as low as reasonably achievable; or
    • (ii)for non-ionising radiation, below the radiation dose limit prescribed by regulations and minimised as far as is practicable;
  • (d)to identify whether the plan is being complied with;
  • (e)to regularly review the plan to ensure its continued effectiveness;
  • (f)to identify whether the relevant radiation safety standard for the source, or premises at which the practice is being carried out, is being complied with.
(3) If a radiation safety officer appointed for the practice is not also the possession licensee for the practice, the plan must also state the following functions for the officer—
  • (a)to advise the licensee of the ways, identified under subsection (2)(a), of minimising the radiation doses received by persons from the source;
  • (b)to report to the licensee—
    • (i)any contravention of the plan or the relevant radiation safety standard identified under subsection (2)(d) or (f); and
    • (ii)what action needs to be taken to ensure compliance with the plan or standard;
  • (c)to advise the licensee of the results of a review under subsection (2)(e) and make recommendations to the licensee about changes to the plan.
(4) For the purposes of this section, employees of a possession licensee include any agent of the licensee and any employee of any such agent.