CMNT_TITLE

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Greece (RATIFICATION: 1982)

Other comments on C115

Observation

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 in response to its previous request concerning occupational exposure during or after an emergency (Articles 2 and 13(d) of the Convention).

Legislation. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the national legislation on the protection of workers from ionizing radiations is under review by a special committee (established by Decision No. P/204/028_04.02.2014 of the President of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE)), with a view to implementing the Council of the European Union Directive 2013/59/EURATOM, which is in line with the 2007 recommendations of the International Commission of Radiation Protection and the Basic Safety Standards of the International Atomic Energy Organization. The Committee invites the Government to take into consideration its general observation of 2015 in the legislative review process. It also requests the Government to provide copies of any new or amended legislation adopted in this regard.

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 the Government’s indication that section 17.2(e) of Act No. 3850/2010 on the ratification of the Code of laws on workers’ health and safety provides that the labour physician gives advice on alternative employment, for health reasons, on a temporary or permanent basis. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the effect given in practice to this provision of the legislation and the follow-up given by the employers to such advices as regards workers for whom work involving occupational exposure to ionizing radiation is medically inadvisable.

Application in practice. The Committee notes the information contained in the annual activity report of the EEAE for 2014 according to which 649 facilities were inspected and 11,584 workers were monitored for occupational exposure, of which 8,776 received doses under the reporting level. This report also indicates that the significant reduction in the number of cases exceeding 6 mSv per year (effective dose limit above which a radiation protection officer investigates the reasons, proposes suitable measures to be adopted and submits a report to the EEAE), from 62 in 2011 to 18 in 2014, is attributed to the intense training provided by the EEAE and to the continuous and direct communication for the investigation of those cases. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in the country and to provide, where such statistics exist, information on the number of workers covered by the legislation, the number and nature of the contraventions reported and the number, nature and cause of occupational accidents and diseases reported.