Additional guidance on protecting on-site personnel from the excessive risks of a radiation accident

Advice was published in 2005 (NRPB 2005 Doc. NRPB 16 1-29) to provide a framework for the protection of on-site personnel who are not involved in mitigating actions in the event of a radiation accident. Such persons could include employees of the site operator, contractors and visitors. Following on from this advice, the HPA has developed additional on-site protection guidance (Watson et al 2007 Report to HSE) (the guidance produced by Watson et al (2007) was written as a commercial contract report for the Health and Safety Executive. Parties who have relevant interest in this guidance, or who wish to comment on it, can request a copy from the HPA). The issues discussed are protection of the unborn child, measures to protect against serious deterministic injury and high individual risk of stochastic effects, implications of off-site and public exposure considerations, and development of on-site neighbouring areas. In each case particular thought is required to ensure that protective measures are efficient and do not lead to any discontinuities in the level of protection offered. Although not formal HPA advice, the new guidance is intended to aid discussions between operators and regulators.