Section 13 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act) requires all persons (managing entities) who manage, control, possess or manufacture radiation sources to obtain a source licence unless the Act or regulations provide otherwise.
Changes in the Radiation Safety Act 2016
Managing entities are required to hold a source licence
The Radiation Safety Act 2016, which repealed the old Radiation Protection Act 1965 (the old Act) came in force in March 2016. The main change introduced by the 2016 Act is the ability to impose the prime responsibility on these managing entities. The old Act only allowed for the regulation of individual users of radiation sources. To put this change into perspective, the responsibility that was imposed on Principle licenses under the old Act now lies with organisations that manages and control radiation sources. Managing entities must hold a source licence issued under the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (Section 13) to protect people and protect the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.
Read more about applying for source licences and licence fees.
Use licenses (the only type of licence issued under the old Act) are retained for those whose roles involve actual ‘use’ of sources. Certain groups of health professionals are exempt from holding a use licence by Schedule 3 of the Radiation Safety Regulations 2016.
Read more about licensing requirements for radiation users.
Codes of Practice issued under the Radiation Safety Act 2016
The shift of the prime responsibility for radiation safety to managing entities in the new regime leads to an essential difference between the old and the new codes. The new codes set out operational requirements for them to satisfy the fundamental requirements (section 9 to 12) set out in the new Act. Also, the new codes have incorporated new recommendations made by the International Atomic Energy Agency for each practice involving the use of ionising radiation.
Read more about the codes of practice issued under the new Act.
Compliance monitoring categories and routine compliance monitoring under the Radiation Safety Act 2016
Routine compliance monitoring is scheduled by the Director for Radiation Safety to monitor source licence holders’ compliance with the radiation safety requirements. In most cases, compliance monitoring is conducted using announced, on-site, inspections at the location or place from which the management and control of radiation sources is authorised by the source licence. Read more about compliance monitoring and compliance monitoring scheduling.