Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2003, publiée 92ème session CIT (2004)

1. The Committee takes note of the Government’s latest report. It notes with interest the information concerning the application of Article 12 of the Convention.

2. Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the approved code of practice entitled "The Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations" (ACoP) was adopted in 1995. The ACoP would, however, be revised in the light of the revised 1985 Ionizing Radiation Regulations (SI 1985 No. 13333) of the United Kingdom and its codes of practice. The Committee hopes that the revised ACoP will entirely reflect the maximum permissible dose limits for workers’ exposure to ionizing radiation, in accordance with the recommendations issued in 1990 by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources sponsored in 1994 by the IAEA, the ILO, the WHO and three other international organizations, to give effect to Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. It also hopes that the ACoP will prohibit, in conformity with Article 7, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the employment of young workers under the age of 16.

3. Article 8. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government according to which persons who are not directly engaged in radiation work, but who remain or pass where they may be exposed, must not be exposed to more than three-tenths of the dose limits specified in Appendix 1 of the ACoP. The Committee observes that the level of exposure specified in Appendix 1 to the ACoP for persons not directly engaged in radiation work, exceeds, contrary to this provision of the Convention, the annual limit of 1 mSv established by the ICRP in its 1990 recommendations. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to give full effect to this provision of the Convention. It finally requests the Government to supply a copy of the revised approved code of practice for further examination as soon as it has been adopted.