14th Irish National Radon Forum EU Basic Safety Standards Directive Impact of new Regulations David Fenton 19th October 2017

Context Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom was adopted on 6th February 2014 to be implemented by 6th February 2018 in Member States. It consolidates five previous Directives on radiation protection (including the 1996 BSS Directive) and Commission recommendation on radon from 1990.

General Approach to transposition Dept. of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is the lead Department for transposition of the BSS The Dept. of Health (HSE) also had role (i.e. medical exposures) Input was also required from Dept. of Housing, Planning and Local Government State Agencies involved: the EPA, Health & Safety Authority and Health Services Executive

General Approach to transposition The IRRS Mission took place in September 2015 IRRS action plan was taken into accounting when drafting the regulations

Key changes proposed in the new Regulations A reduction in the Reference Level for workplaces Clearer requirements on carrying out radon measurements and on when to remediate Stronger regulations governing underground workplaces and other workplaces where remediation cannot be achieved Statutory requirement for a National Radon Control Strategy

Reference Levels and Measurement Reference Level (SI No 125 of 2000) is being reduced 400 Bq/m3 New Reference Level 300 Bq/m3 The radon measurements must be made by a registered radon measurement service. (Registered means registered with the EPA) be carried out in accordance with EPA measurement protocol, i.e. three month test will still be needed.

Who must measure The Order proposes a general duty on employers to measure radon This applies to underground workplaces (<10) aboveground workplaces in High Radon Areas (based upon the EPA’s radon map)

What if radon levels are greater than 300 Bq/m3 in a workplace? A requirement to reduce the radon levels within 6 months is proposed. This will normally require remedial work Post remediation measurements are then required To determine if remediation is successful To identify those areas where radon levels cannot be reduced

What if radon levels in a workplace cannot be reduced to below 300 Bq/m3 ? This applies to mines and show-caves where radon risk has to be managed Such workplaces will be subject to inspection Requirement for workers to be monitored If doses > 6mSv further requirements will apply similar to artificial sources

Aboveground workplaces Unlikely this will need to be applied. What if radon levels in a workplace cannot be reduced to below 300 Bq/m3 ? Aboveground workplaces Unlikely this will need to be applied. I’m unaware of any above ground workplace that could not be remediated Relatively few workplaces have measured

National Radon Control Strategy BSS requires to develop an Action Plan to include dwellings This requirement is met by the NRCS now in year 4 of operation The regulations calls for the NRCS to be reviewed and updated at regular intervals

Summary - optimism and reality The new regulations are a definite improvement on SI No 125 of 2000 The new regulations and NRCS means we are now in a much better place Getting employers to test is very challenging and we are starting from a low base

Public Consultation now open Consultation is now open on the new regulations. Visit DCCAE website Comments to radiationpolicy@dccea.ie by 24th October 2017