Our Radiation Protection and Criticality (RP&C) specialism supports regulatory activity across ONR to ensure that workers and the public are protected from ionising radiation, on and around nuclear sites and via the transport of radioactive materials. This includes both normal operation and emergency situations.
We carry out assessments and inspections of civil, defence and transport dutyholders, primarily to measure compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) and Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR19). Our inspectors ensure new power stations are designed in a way that restricts radiation exposure, and our experts ensure dutyholders’ arrangements remain safe with respect to criticality.
Our experts in personal protective equipment, shielding, emergency preparedness and radiation consequences work to support ONR’s activities. This includes managing ONR’s dosimetry needs, and we have a dedicated Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) who can advise any ONR employee on their own radiation protection safety.
RP&C is also responsible for a number of ONR’s statutory duties:
- We confirm whether Approved Dosimetry Services that support the nuclear industry are fit for purpose;
- We work with other regulators to assess and report annually on radiation doses to the public from nuclear sites;
- We administer High Activity Sealed Sources (HASS), The Shipment of Radioactive Substances (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and The Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel (EU Exit) Regulations 2019; and
- We carry out IRR17 consents and maintain records of the holdings of radiation sources on the sites we regulate.
As well as working within the UK to promote the development and adoption of relevant good practice, our inspectors attend and support international fora to positively influence global standards and best practice in all aspects of radiation protection, including the IAEA’s Radiation Safety Standards (RASSC) and Emergency Preparedness and Response Standards (EPReSC) Committees, the Heads of European Radiation protection Competent Authorities association (HERCA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).