Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 1992, publiée 79ème session CIT (1992)

The Committee has noted the Government's indication in its latest report that the supplementary radiation regulations noted in the Committee's previous comments have taken the form of a Joint Ministerial Decision and are in the process of being published. The Government is requested to provide a copy of this Joint Ministerial Decision with its next report.

I. Article 8 of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that the maximum level of exposure to ionising radiations for workers not directly engaged in radiation work is one-tenth of the limit of exposure for workers engaged in radiation work. As section 8 of the Joint Ministerial Decision No. A2/1539 on the fundamental safety standards for the health protection of the public and workers against ionising radiations fixes a limit for whole body exposure to ionising radiations at 50 mSv per year for workers engaged in radiation work, this would translate to a limit of 5 mSv for workers not directly engaged in radiation work. In its latest report, the Government has confirmed this and added that this is in conformity with the maximum exposure limit permissible for the general public which is also 5 mSv.

While the Government has indicated that the limit of 5 mSv is consistent with the Euratom Directives Nos. 80/467 and 80/836, the Committee would recall that Article 3, paragraph 1 of the Convention provides that all appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure effective protection of workers, as regards their health and safety, against ionising radiations, in the light of knowledge available at the time. In this regard, the Committee would draw the Government's attention its General Observation under this Convention, in particular, paragraph 14 concerning dose limits for non-radiation workers. It notes that the International Commission on Radiological Protection in its 1990 Recommendations (ICRP Publication 60) maintains an annual limit on effective dose for the general public of 1 mSv, averaged over any five consecutive years. The Government is requested to indicate, in its next report, the measures taken to ensure that, in accordance with current knowledge, workers not directly engaged in radiation work are not exposed to dose limits exceeding 1 mSv per year, averaged over five years.

II. The Committee would more generally call the Government's attention to its General Observation under this Convention which sets forth the revised exposure limits adopted by the International Commission on Radiological Protection on the basis of new physiological findings in its 1990 Recommendations (Publication No. 60). The Committee would recall that, under Article 3, paragraph 1 and Article 6, paragraph 2 of the Convention, all appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure effective protection of workers against ionising radiations and to review maximum permissible doses of ionising radiations in the light of current knowledge. The Government is requested to indicate the steps taken or being considered in relation to the matters raised in the conclusions to the General Observation.

III. Exposures in emergency situations

The Committee notes the Government's reply to its General Observation of 1987. It notes that sections 36 and 37 of Ministerial Decision No. 1539 of 1985 provide for special surveillance of workers exposed to excessive levels of ionising radiation. In this regard, the Committee would refer the Government to paragraphs 16 to 27 of its General Observation concerning the limitation of occupational exposure during and after an emergency. It requests the Government to indicate the steps taken or being considered in relation to the matters raised in paragraph 35(c) of the General Observation.