Although RSA60 and NIA65 controlled the use and disposal of radioactive material , there was no legislation to protect workers , except for The Factories ( Luminising ) Special Regulations 1947 . These were made under the 1947 Factories Act and only applied to factories . They were the forerunner of the Ionising Radiations Regulations for Sealed ( 1968 ) and Unsealed ( 1969 ) Sources , which were made under the revised Factories Act of 1961 . The Luminising Regulations covered matters such as ventilation , provision of washing facilities , provision of protective clothing , paper handkerchiefs and requirements for medicals .
The Luminising Regulations were revoked in 1968 when the Ionising Radiations ( Unsealed Source ) Regulations came into force . The problem was that the Factories Act only applied to factories . Other premises were covered by the Offices , Shops and Railways Act , but this did not cover universities and other research establishments . Universities instead worked to a code of practice published by university chancellors .
Following the introduction of RSA60 , a series of 18 statutory Exemption Orders were implemented which remained in force until they were finally revoked in 2011 . These covered a diverse range of materials and practices , including exhibitions , sources in transit , luminising activities , uranium and thorium and substances of low specific activity . The exemption orders remained until the various industries who used them could agree on the wording of the replacement legislation . This took several iterations over many years .
The UK National Radiological Protection Board ( NRPB ) was formed under the Radiological Protection Act 1970 , and in 1974 the Health and Safety at Work , etc . Act was implemented to cover all employers and employees at work . The concept of risk assessment was born .
It was deemed necessary to implement new ionising radiations regulations as the 1968 / 69
Radiation Protection Today Autumn 2024 regulations were made under the Factories Act . Exposure to ionising radiations from all sources were treated together under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 .
Introduction of the Integrated Pollution Control ( IPC ) regime under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 necessitated numerous changes to RSA60 . These were subsequently consolidated , resulting in the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 .
ICRP 2 was published in 1960 and was used to calculate a person ' s systemic burden from exposure to intakes of radioactive materials . This was subsequently deemed unacceptable , as it meant a person could receive a lifetime exposure and be barred from ever working with radioactive materials again . This issue was addressed in 1977 by ICRP 26 , which introduced the concepts of dose equivalent and annual limits on intake , allowing workers to continue to work . ICRP 30 , Limits for Intakes of Radionuclides by Workers , was published in 1982 .
As a member of the EU , the UK was obliged to comply with the EU Basic Safety Standards Directive 96 / 29 / EURATOM . This led to revision of the Ionising Radiations Regulations in 1999 . These were not that dissimilar from the 1985 regulations , but an Approved Code of Practice ( ACoP ) was published to support implementation . The requirement for a Certificated Radiation Protection Adviser was introduced , replacing previous provisions relating to Competent Persons . The 1999 regulations remained in force until introduction of the revised EU Basic Safety Standards Directive 2013 / 59 / EURATOM on 5 December 2013 . This required the UK to revise a range of regulations relating to radiological safety , including the Ionising Radiations Regulations in 2017 and the accompanying ACoP . Amongst other changes , the Health and Safety Executive ( HSE ) now charges dutyholders making notification of work , and industrial radiography facilities are required to apply for Consent to work . This is still being ironed out at the time of writing .
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