Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Ghana (Ratification: 1961)

Other comments on C115

Observation

Direct Request

2015
2013
2012
2010

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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.

Articles 6(2) and 7(2) of the Convention. Dose limits in occupational exposure and dose limits for persons between 16 and 18 years of age. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that for apprentices between 16 and 18 years of age, the equivalent dose to the lens of the eye is of 50 mSv in a year. In addition, the Committee notes that the information provided by the Government on the dose limits for radiation workers does not establish the applicable limit for the lens of the eye. With reference to paragraphs 11, 13, 32 and 34 of its 2015 general observation, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the most recent recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection according to which the equivalent dose to the lens of the eye for radiation workers should be 20 mSv averaged over defined periods of five years, with no single year exceeding 50 mSv per year, and for students between the ages of 16 and 18 who use sources of radiation in the course of their studies, an equivalent dose to the lens of the eye of 20 mSv/year. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the maximum permissible dose established with respect to the lens of the eye for radiation workers. It also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to review the maximum permissible doses established with respect to the lens of the eye for apprentices between 16 and 18 years of age, in light of current knowledge.

Article 8. Dose limits for workers not directly engaged in radiation work. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the effective dose limit for members of the public is of 5 mSv in a year. In this respect, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to paragraphs 14 and 35 of its 2015 general observation which state that the dose limits for workers not directly engaged in radiation work are those to be applied to members of the public, particularly an annual effective dose limit of 1 mSv, and that a higher value of effective dose can be allowed in a single year, provided that the average, over five years, does not exceed 1 mSv per year. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to review the maximum permissible doses established for workers not directly engaged in radiation work, in light of current knowledge.

Article 13(a) and (d). Duty to provide an appropriate medical examination and required remedial action based on technical findings and medical advice. The Committee notes that no information is provided on the effect given to these provisions of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to specify the circumstances in which, because of the nature or degree of the exposure or a combination of both, workers shall undergo an appropriate medical examination and the circumstances in which employers shall take any necessary remedial action on the basis of the technical findings and the medical advice.

Article 14. Discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation pursuant to medical advice and alternative employment. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided information on the effect given to this Article of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to paragraph 40 of its 2015 general observation, which provides that if it is medically inadvisable to subject a worker to further exposure to ionizing radiations, reasonable efforts should be made to provide such a worker with suitable alternative employment. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged related to the provision of suitable alternative employment in circumstances for which it has been determined that workers, for health reasons, may no longer continue in employment in which they are or could be subject to occupational exposure to radiations.

Article 15. Inspection services. The Committee notes that no information is provided in the Government’s report on the inspection services established to supervise the application of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to provide appropriate inspection services for the purpose of supervising the application of the provisions of the Convention.