Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report. It would like to draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

2. Article 3, together with Articles 5 and 6, of the Convention. Effective protection of workers against ionizing radiations; exposure of workers to the lowest practicable level of ionizing radiation. The Committee notes that, according to the information provided by the Government, the dose limit for exposure to ionizing radiation is 5 rem/year (50 mSv/year) for workers directly engaged in radiation work. In this respect, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to its 1992 general observation under the Convention setting forth, inter alia, the revised exposure limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), No. 60 (1990). In these recommendations, the ICRP fixed the permissible level of exposure to ionizing radiation for workers engaged in radiation work at 20 mSv per year, averaged over five years, but not exceeding 50 mSv in any single year. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to bring the national legislation into conformity with these recommendations to ensure that these levels are not exceeded.

3. Article 4. Efforts to arrange for workers’ protection. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that this Article of the Convention is applied by regulations on radiation safety standards issued by the Ministry of Health of the former USSR. The Committee therefore asks the Government to specify the regulations which are still in force and to supply copies of these regulations in order to enable the Committee to determine the extent to which this Article is applied.

4. Article 7. Levels of ionizing radiation to be fixed for workers under the age of 18 years. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the legislation fixing levels of ionizing radiation for workers under the age of 18 years engaged in radiation work, in order to give them appropriate protection.

5. Article 8. Appropriate levels for workers who are not directly engaged in radiation work. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the maximum permissible level of exposure of workers who are not directly engaged in radiation work is 0.5 rem/year (5mSv). The Committee again draws the Government’s attention to its 1992 general observation under the Convention as well as to section 5.4.5 of the ILO code of practice, 1986, requiring that the dose limits for non-radiation workers should be those applied to the general public. For the general public the permissible dose limit is fixed at 1 mSv/year, averaged over five consecutive years. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged in order to assure that these dose limits are incorporated into national legislation at national level, in conformity with the dose limits recommended by the ICRP.

6. Article 9, paragraph 1. Appropriate indication of the presence of hazards from ionizing radiations. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the legal basis providing for the establishment of signs and means of information at workplaces where the workers are exposed or likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation.

7. Article 11. Measurement of the level of the exposure of workers to ionizing radiations and radioactive substances. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the respect for maximum permissible doses is ensured by “active monitoring”. The Government is asked to explain in detail the organization and frequency of this active monitoring as well as to indicate which unit is responsible for the carrying out of such monitoring.

8. Article 12. Medical examinations of workers directly engaged in radiation work prior to such work and subsequently at appropriate intervals. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the nature and frequency of medical examinations of workers directly engaged in radiation work.

9. Article 13. Emergency situations. The Committee notes the Government’s indication concerning emergency situations. Referring to its explanations given in paragraphs 16-27 and 35(c) of its 1992 general observation under the Convention and in the light of paragraphs V.27 and V.30 of the 1994 International Safety Standards, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the circumstances in which the exceptional exposure of workers may be authorized and on the measures designed to optimize protection against accidents and during emergency operations, in particular with regard to the design and protective features of the workplace and equipment, and the development of techniques avoiding the exposure of persons to ionizing radiations during emergency interventions.

10. Article 14. Alternative employment or other measures offered for maintaining income where continued assignment to work involving exposure is medically inadvisable. The Committee notes the Government’s general statement that alternative employment opportunities for workers whose continued exposure to ionizing radiations is medically inadvisable is ensured by laws and regulations. In this context, the Committee wishes to draw the attention of the Government to paragraph 32 of its 1992 general observation under the Convention where it is indicated that every effort must be made to provide the workers concerned with suitable alternative employment, or to maintain their income through social security measures or otherwise where continued assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation is found to be medically inadvisable. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on measures taken to ensure the application of Article 14 of the Convention, taking into account the general observation of 1992 under this Convention.