there are 16 " schedules " for specific cancer sites ( including cataracts ) and these are based on the risk rate models published in
3 4
BEIR VII ( 2006 ) and UNSCEAR 2006 .
The Scheme is kept constantly under scientific scrutiny ; the latest revision was in 2008 , previous revisions having been made in 1986 and 1991 . Generally the scheme is quite generous to claimants , with the incorporation of technical parameters providing a lower threshold for compensation at a CP of 20 %. Most of the models used are combinations of excess relative risk and absolute risk derived from published epidemiological data . Quantum ( a legal term referring to the maximum amount of damages expected in a claim ) is assessed by solicitors for both sides after CP has been calculated - ¼ at > 20 % CP , ½ at > 30 %, ¾ at > 40 % and full quantum at over 50 % CP . The scheme participants and
solicitors are very aware of the requirement to produce a result within a short time frame , especially with morbidity claims .
The Scheme is administered by a secretariat and a board for each participating employer , with overall policy being decided by a council . A technical working party , of which I am vice chair , reviews the science . The Scheme has had just over 1,700 claims , of which about 10 % have resulted in payments totalling just under £ 9m . The Scheme has a website : csrld . org . uk
3
Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation . Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation ( BEIR ) VII Phase 2 Report , National Research Council of the National Academies . National Academies Press , Washington DC , 2006
4
Effects of Ionizing Radiation . United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation ( UNSCEAR ) 2006 Report , United Nations , New York , 2008
Latest from Legs and Regs
IRR17 Graded Approach – An Update
HSE Dutyholders Existing registrations or consents under IRR17 which were granted before 1 October 2023 continue to apply . HSE will approach current holders of consents and require them to submit a safety assessment . Registration holders have been contacted to provide additional information about the extent and purpose of their work via HSE ' s RADAN service .
Dutyholders that wish to notify HSE of new work with ionising radiation or work in an atmosphere containing radon above a certain level , or to apply for a new registration or consent , can apply via HSE ’ s RADAN service .
ONR Dutyholders ONR is working through its existing consents and will invite dutyholders to submit safety assessments in the near future . All dutyholders have been contacted to provide details of radiation generators held on their sites , so ONR can develop a UK register . Further details can be found on ONR ' s webpage on IRR17 .
REPPIR Post Implementation Review ( PIR )
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ( DESNZ ) together with the Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) and the Health and Safety Executive ( HSE ) is carrying out a postimplementation review ( PIR ) of the Radiation ( Emergency Preparedness and Public Information ) Regulations 2019 .
The REPPIR Review aims to determine
• whether the regulations meet their original objectives
• whether their scope is still appropriate and proportionate
• their impact on operators and whether there have been any unintended consequences
• whether any changes could be made which would lessen the regulatory burden whilst still meeting the overall objectives .
DESNZ sent out a PIR stakeholder questionnaire in September 2023 and was in the process of reviewing the responses at the time this issue of the magazine went to press .
30 Radiation Protection Today www . srp-rpt . uk