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Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Azerbaijan (RATIFICATION: 1992)

Other comments on C115

Direct Request

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General observation of 2015. The Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to its general observation of 2015 under this Convention, and in particular to the request for information contained in paragraph 30 thereof.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report regarding the period during which records of measurements of individual exposure to radiation are kept (Article 11 of the Convention) and the type and frequency of medical examinations of workers directly engaged in radiation work (Article 12).

Article 2 of the Convention. Application of the Convention to all activities involving exposure of workers to ionizing radiations in the course of their work. Emergency workers. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that organizations using ionizing radiations are required, in coordination with the regulatory agency, to prepare a plan for the prevention of radiation accidents and pursuant to which they must carry out activities to prevent radiation accidents and minimize the exposure level of workers, namely through the provision of means of protection for persons who may be subject to the consequences of a radiation accident. It also notes that pursuant to section 21 of the Radiation Protection Act of 1997, workers involved in the liquidation of the consequences of a radiation accident cannot receive a dose exceeding ten times the average annual dose of 20 mSv. In this regard, the Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to paragraph 37 of the 2015 general observation, which provides that reference levels in emergency situations should be selected to be within, or if possible below, the 20–100 mSv band and that measures are to be taken to ensure that no emergency worker is subject to an exposure in excess of 50 mSv, except in exceptional circumstances which are described. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures taken to ensure that workers in emergency situations are exposed to the lowest possible level of ionizing radiations in light of the indications contained in paragraph 37 of the 2015 general observation.

Articles 3, 5 and 6(2). Effective protection of workers against ionizing radiations. Review of maximum permissible doses in the light of current knowledge. With reference to its previous comments where it noted that section 9 of the Radiation Safety Act establishes the permissible average annual dose for workers directly engaged in radiation work, the Committee notes that the Government refers to the Occupational Radiation Protection Safety Guide No. RS-G-1.1 (1999) of the IAEA, which establishes that the occupational exposure of workers shall not exceed an equivalent dose to the lens of the eye of 150 mSv in a year, and indicates that the maximum permissible amount of exposure for workers working directly with sources of category-A ionizing radiation is considered to be 50 mSv in the course of one year when the average annual radiation dose of 20 mSv in a five-year period is not exceeded. Recalling that under Article 6(2) of the Convention, maximum permissible doses shall be kept under constant review in light of current knowledge and referring to paragraphs 11 and 32 of its 2015 general observation, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the most recent standards in this respect, which provide that the dose limit for the lens of the eye is an equivalent dose of 20 mSv per year, with no single year exceeding 50 mSv. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to review the permissible doses established with respect to the lens of the eye, in light of current knowledge in light of the abovementioned paragraphs of the general observation.

Article 14. Discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation pursuant to medical advice and alternative employment. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government once again refers to section 3.15 of the Basic Sanitary Rules OSP-72/87 on the temporary or permanent transfer of workers who cannot continue work with ionizing radiation due to the detection of abnormalities in their state of health, the implementation of which is supervised by the State Agency for Regulation of Nuclear and Radiological. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide further detailed information on measures taken to ensure that no worker shall be employed or shall continue to be employed in work by reason of which the worker could be the subject of exposure to ionising radiations contrary to qualified medical advice, including situations before any abnormalities or diseases have been detected. It also invites the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged with regard to the offer of alternative employment in such situations.