The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17)


If you have any questions about these regulations and how they might apply to your organisation, please do get in touch.

The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 implement EU Directive 2013/59/Euratom in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The regulations came into effect on January 1st 2018 and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The purpose of these regulations is to ensure the protection of people from sources of ionising radiation in the workplace.

Scope

The regulations apply to the following activities:

  1. The production, processing, handling, disposal, use, storage, holding or transport of radioactive substances. This will include users of sealed and unsealed radioactive sources.
  2. The operation of any electrical equipment emitting ionising radiation and containing components operating at a potential difference of more than 5 kV. This will include users of X-ray equipment.
  3. Any work carried out in an environment where the annual average concentration of radon gas exceeds 300 Bq/m3.

Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA)

Regulation 14 states that employers working with ionising radiation must consult a suitable Radiation Protection Adviser. RPAs must demonstrate their competence to a body called RPA2000 and a list of current certificate holders can be found here.