1. Regulations Part II: Basic Concepts and Definitions
Day 8 – Lecture 5(2)

2. Objectives
To provide an understanding of the basic concepts and definitions used in radiation safety regulations.

3. Contents Scope of the regulations Exclusions Exemptions Clearance
Definitions of terms

4. Basic Concepts Scope of the Regulations Practices and / or Sources
Regulatory control
Exemptions
Sources and practices that do not meet the provisions for exclusion or exemption will be subject to authorization by registration or licensing.
Sources that no longer to be regulated may be subject to clearance provided they satisfy the Body’s requirements.
Authorization by licence or registration
Clearance
Exclusions

5. Scope The Scope of regulatory control will include:
practices e.g. production or use of radiation sources;
sources of radiation within practices;
occupational, public and medical exposures caused by a practice or by a source within a practice, including both normal and potential exposures;
certain occupational and public exposures to natural radiation.

6. Exclusions However, some sources are not amenable to control e.g.
40K in the body;
cosmic radiation at the surface of the earth;
low concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in raw materials.

7. Exemption Some practices and radiation sources may be exempted:
from regulatory control requirements including those of notification and authorization;
from procedural requirements of regulations to accommodate a specific situation, providing that the same level of protection and safety can be achieved by alternative methods.

8. Exemption (cont) Exemption of practices and sources defined by:
exemption levels (e.g. GSR Part 3 Schedule I);
any exemption level defined by the Regulatory Body on the basis of the criteria for exemption (GSR Part 3 , Schedule I).
Exemptions shall not be granted to practices deemed not to be justified.
MODIFIED

9. Exemption (cont)
MODIFIED
Exemption applies if either the Activity Concentration or the Activity does not exceed the GSR Part 3 Schedule I table I-1

10. Exemption (cont) Exemption criteria (GSR Part 3 , Schedule I)
Where the expected effective dose incurred to a member of the public due to the practice or source is in the order of 10 microsievert per year.
Where the effective dose expected to be incurred by any member of the public for such low probability scenarios does not exceed 1 mSv in a year.
MODIFIED

11. Exempted Sources Type approved sealed radioactive sources
≤ 1 Sv h-1 at 0.1 m from any accessible surface of the device;
the dose to members of the public ≤ 10 Sv a-1
Type approved electrical apparatus
≤ 1 Sv h-1 at 0.1 m from any accessible surface of the apparatus; or
the maximum radiation energy is 5 keV.

12. Clearance Definition (BSS)
The removal of regulatory control by the regulatory body from radioactive material or radioactive objects within notified or authorized practices.
i.e. radioactive sources, material and objects, which were the subject of an authorization, may be released from regulatory control subject to compliance with clearance levels approved by the Regulatory Body.
MODIFIED

13. Clearance (cont) Clearance criteria and levels
Clearance levels shall be approved by the Regulatory Body.
Clearance levels  exemption levels.
For bulk amounts of materials, clearance levels << exemption levels.
MODIFIED

14. Clearance (cont) Unconditional clearance No further control.
First destination of the material is known (e.g. used for road construction) and after that no further control.

15. Definitions
GLOSSARY
accident
Any unintended event, including operating errors, equipment failures or other mishaps, the consequences or potential consequences of which are not negligible from the point of view of protection or safety.
authorization
The granting by a regulatory body or other governmental body of written permission for a
person or organization to conduct specified activities.
registration
A form of authorization for practices of low or moderate risks whereby the person or
organization responsible for the practice has, as appropriate, prepared and submitted a safety
assessment of the facilities and equipment to the regulatory body. The practice or use is authorized
with conditions or limitations as appropriate.
Various terms need to be interpreted and may be presented as a Glossary such as that in IAEA Safety Glossary and GSR Part 3.
MODIFIED