Changes in Regulations and Standards over the Last 60 Years
The principal regulations governing ionising radiation concern the exposure of workers ( Ionising Radiations Regulations ), the public ( principally environmental regulations ) and patients / carers ( Ionising Radiation ( Medical Exposure ) Regulations ). There are also numerous other regulations governing aspects such as emergency preparedness , transport , civil contingencies , justification of practices etc . Hazards from non-ionising radiation are governed by The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations .
The UK regulatory framework , like that in most of the world , derives principally from the system of radiation protection developed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection ( ICRP ), which is periodically updated via a series of Recommendations which reflect advances in scientific understanding and practices . Key Recommendations have been issued in 1977 ( ICRP Publication 26 ), 1990 ( ICRP Publication 60 ) and , most recently , 2007 ( ICRP Publication 103 ). These form the basis of Basic Safety Standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ), the European Atomic Energy Community ( EURATOM ) and others . For non-ionising radiations the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection ( ICNIRP ) was created in 1992 ( with foundations in 1973 ), with similar objectives to ICRP . Members of SRP have been involved with all these organisations serving in a professional capacity ( e . g . Health and Safety Executive ( HSE ) policy makers ) or directly as SRP representatives .
The Houses of Parliament – the ultimate source of UK legislation
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