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alan w houghton  
#1 Posted : 13 October 2017 09:33:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alan w houghton

Help required

I have been tasked with completing a Radiation risk assessment - however having not completed one evr and out of my confort zone so hopeing somebody with this experience could assist me

Many thanks in advance please feel free to PM me

Kind regards

Alan

georgiaredmayne  
#2 Posted : 13 October 2017 09:35:23(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
georgiaredmayne

Alan,

Hi, what are we talking about here EMF or Ionising Radiation? 

Ian Bell2  
#3 Posted : 13 October 2017 09:51:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

As per the previous post, what type of radiation?

By your own admission knowledge & competence sounds to be an issue.

Looks like a job for a specialist consultant. 

georgiaredmayne  
#4 Posted : 13 October 2017 10:30:12(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
georgiaredmayne

Alan,

From your other post regarding a nuclear environment I am assuming you are working with Ionising Radiation and as such IRR 99 will apply. See links:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/ionising/legalbase.htm

You will need to consult with a Radiation Protection Advisor as Per Reg 13 to assist you in the management of H&S in terms of Ionising Radiation. The RPA will advise you on the legal requirements and protection measures that must be in place for work with Ionising Radiation (generally shielding, distance, time). 

Has your company notified the work they carry out to the HSE or have they been authorised to do so where approporiate? 

IRR 99 does require a 'prior risk assessment' before work is carried out with ionising radiation - the prior risk assessment requires you to look at many different points as per page 26 of L121 (hence the need for specialist advice).

You will most certainly need contingency plans and local orders. Possibly, controlled or supervised areas, measurement and monitoring on exposure levels, radiation protection supervisor, dosimetry services, keeping of records for 50 years, advice on transport and waste (if applicable) depending on substance and activity level.

I highly recommend that you take this up with an RPA. We personally use the services of Aurora who are also able to take measurements, implement a robust management system, audit and provide training to yourselves and staff. 

https://aurorahp.co.uk/ 

Edited by user 13 October 2017 10:47:32(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

thanks 1 user thanked georgiaredmayne for this useful post.
andrewcl on 13/10/2017(UTC)
Ian Bell2  
#5 Posted : 13 October 2017 10:39:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

I think you have the wrong person. I don't work in the nuclear sector at the moment

alan w houghton  
#6 Posted : 13 October 2017 10:39:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alan w houghton

Yes I do need a H&S specialist in this area and anyone who is can please PM me

georgiaredmayne  
#7 Posted : 13 October 2017 10:45:57(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
georgiaredmayne

Originally Posted by: Ian Bell2 Go to Quoted Post

I think you have the wrong person. I don't work in the nuclear sector at the moment

Sorry I meant Alan!

hilary  
#8 Posted : 13 October 2017 10:48:27(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
hilary

We use X Rays and have a Radiation Protection Advisor (external).  They have provided us with all the information we need to do a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and produce a procedure for working with Ionising Radiation.  Several of us were also trained as Radiation Protection Supervisors and again, this helped with the competence level.  As both of these roles are mandatory requirements for working with Ionising Radiation of any sort, I recommend that you rewind to the beginning, appoint and RPA who will probably provide RPS training (it was very cheap), and move forward from that point.

A Kurdziel  
#9 Posted : 13 October 2017 11:21:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Alan, we still don't know what sort of radiation you are talking about ionising, lasers, Uv or EMF?

alan w houghton  
#10 Posted : 13 October 2017 11:26:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alan w houghton

sorry lost internet connection

Its Ionising

georgiaredmayne  
#11 Posted : 13 October 2017 11:29:14(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
georgiaredmayne

Hi Alan,

I have PM'd you and responded above. You really need to consult with an RPA, this is not a typical area of expertise for H&S Practitioners unless they are also RPA's.

andrewcl  
#12 Posted : 13 October 2017 11:45:42(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
andrewcl

As Georgia says, you legally (and logically!) need an RPA (Radiation Protection Advisor).  An RPA knows the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 and how to apply them in the average workplace that uses sources of ionising radiation and/or radioactive materials.

Also mentioned above are RPSs (Radiation Protection Supervisors) which you also require by law (Reg 17 if memory serves...?).  You can have your own guys trained to be an RPS - (once again, if memory serves...) an RPS needs to Supervise the radiological aspects of the work, know how precaustions restrict (radiation) dose, know what to do in an emergency and know how the IRR99 and the local rules apply to the work area.

If your workers are going to receive in the order of 6mSv (6 milli Sieverts) of dose in any 12 month period, they need to be legally classed as classified workers too (need to be over 18, and medical with an approved doctor to say they are fit to work with ionising radiations).  Employers need to keep an accurate record of any (radiation) dose, whether internal or external, so dosimetry is a must (and legally required - but, why wouldn't you want to measure your dose...?!) and there is also the potential for bioassay samples - if only to prove no intakes have occurred.

Areas need to be designated as either supervised or controlled and which one you go for will depend on whether you're using sealed sources or not.

Oh, and don't forget there are also potentially security regs that may apply, dependant on what materials you're using, and how much of them.

...But an RPA should be able to advise you on all of this :-)

thanks 1 user thanked andrewcl for this useful post.
georgiaredmayne on 13/10/2017(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#13 Posted : 13 October 2017 11:58:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

The ionising radiation regs are not really a matter of risk assessment: it’s is more prescriptive than that and that is why you require an RPA and an RPA, someone who knows the rules and knows how to apply them.

alan w houghton  
#14 Posted : 13 October 2017 12:04:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alan w houghton

Thanks for your replies eveyone

RPA it is then

Bigmac1  
#15 Posted : 14 October 2017 07:48:10(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Bigmac1

Alan an RPA will not be cheap.

Another option is to use the clients RPA. This is an option we have at Sellafield, obviously there will be a charge but will be much cheaper than a consultant.

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