Regulation No. 57 of 2016 of Minister of the Environment of Estonia on Requirements for radiation safety training for exposed workers and radiation safety officers

Requirements for radiation safety training for exposed workers and radiation ... Page 1 / 2 Issuer: Minister of the Environment Type: regulation In force from: 28.11.2016 In force until: In force Translation published: 22.10.2018 Requirements for radiation safety training for exposed workers and radiation safety officers Passed 24.11.2016 Annex 57 This Regulation is enacted on the basis of Sections 46(4) and 48(2) of the Radiation Act. § 1. Types of radiation safety training (1) The types of radiation safety training are as follows: 1) mentoring; 2) basic training; 3) further training. (2) Mentoring is the process of informing an exposed worker in order to ensure that the working environment is safe and that machines and equipment are used safely. Mentoring may take the form of initial mentoring, regular mentoring or additional mentoring. (3) For the purposes of this Regulation, basic training is training covering the fundamental aspects of radiation protection which an exposed worker or a radiation safety officer is to complete within six months of taking up their position. (4) For the purposes of this Regulation, further training is periodic training to broaden the knowledge and skills of exposed workers and radiation safety officers in the field of radiation safety. § 2. Mentoring for exposed workers (1) Before starting radiation work, an exposed worker shall receive initial mentoring. (2) In the case of moderate and high-risk radiation practices, regular mentoring shall be undertaken once a year. (3) Additional mentoring shall be arranged on the initiative of the holder of a radiation practice licence or at the request of the issuer of a radiation practice licence or a radiation safety officer if: 1) amendments relating to radiation safety have been made to the legislation, or the rules governing the mentoring of exposed workers in respect of radiation safety have been amended; 2) there have been changes to the radiation practices; 3) it has become evident that an exposed worker has insufficient knowledge as regards radiation safety; 4) the occupational exposure limits have been exceeded; 5) a radiological emergency has occurred. (4) The rules governing the mentoring of exposed workers shall be approved by the holder of the radiation practice licence. (5) Exposed workers shall be mentored by a radiation expert, a radiation safety officer or, in the absence thereof, the holder of the radiation practice licence. (6) Mentoring shall include at least the following: 1) the health risks involved in the work; 2) general radiation-safety measures and the precautions to be taken, including the circumstances relating to the use of the particular source of radiation and to the working conditions; 3) the applicable technical, medical and administrative requirements. (7) Female workers shall be informed of the need for an early declaration of pregnancy, in view of the sensitivity of embryos to radiation, and of the dangers posed to breast-fed children by radioactive contamination. (8) The following shall be indicated in the written documentation concerning the mentoring of an exposed worker: Page 2 / 2 Requirements for radiation safety training for exposed workers and radiation ... 1) the date of mentoring; 2) the first name, surname and position of both the mentee and the mentor; 3) in the event of initial mentoring, the date on which radiation work may be started; 4) in the event of additional mentoring, the reason as referred to in subsection 3 of this Section; 5) the signature of the exposed worker being mentored. (9) Written documentation concerning mentoring is not required if the representative of the holder of the radiation practice licence is the sole exposed worker. § 3. Requirements for the content of basic training for exposed workers and radiation safety officers (1) Radiation safety training for exposed workers and radiation safety officers shall take place within the framework of basic training and further training. (2) Basic training for exposed workers shall include a course of at least four hours combining lectures and practical work and shall cover at least the following topics: 1) the nature of ionising radiation, types of radiation and the risk of radiation; 2) measuring radiation, and the units of measurement; 3) the fundamentals of radiation safety; 4) radiation protection equipment, safety systems, hazard labels and safety signs; 5) what to do in an emergency situation. (3) Basic training for radiation safety officers shall consist of a course of at least 40 hours combining lectures and practical work and shall cover at least the following topics: 1) introduction to radiation physics and dosimetry; 2) introduction to radiobiology; 3) ionising radiation detectors and measurement methods; 4) legal bases for radiation safety; 5) principles of radiation safety, dose limits, technical means for radiation protection, radiation safety infrastructure; 6) emergencies and emergency preparedness; 7) radioactive waste management; 8) exercises. § 4. Participation in further training and requirements for the content of further training (1) The holder of a radiation practice licence shall arrange for exposed workers and radiation safety officers to participate in further training and arrange funding for further training at least once every five years. (2) Periodic further training for exposed workers shall include a course of at least four hours combining lectures and practical work and shall cover at least the topics referred to in Section 3(2)(3)—(5) of this Regulation. (3) Periodic further training for radiation safety officers shall include a course of at least 20 hours combining lectures and practical work and shall cover at least the topics referred to in Section 3(3)(4)—(8) of this Regulation. § 5. Requirements for leading training (1) Basic training and further training for exposed workers shall be led by an officer having at least three years’ experience working in the field of radiation safety or by a radiation expert holding valid authorisation. (2) Training for radiation safety officers shall be led by a radiation expert holding valid authorisation. (3) Exposed workers and radiation safety officers who have participated in basic training and further training shall be issued with a certificate indicating the time, place and amount of training, the trainer and the topics covered. § 6. Entry into force of the Regulation Sections 1(3) and 4(1) of this Regulation shall enter into force on 1 November 2017. Marko Pomerants Minister Andres Talijärv Deputy Secretary General