The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Operator’s emergency plan

10.—(1) Where the operator has made an evaluation in accordance with regulation 4(1) which shows that a radiation emergency might occur, the operator shall make an adequate emergency plan designed to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the restriction of exposure to ionising radiation and the health and safety of persons who may be affected by the radiation emergencies identified by the evaluation.

(2) When preparing an emergency plan, as required by paragraph (1), the operator shall take into account—

(a) the steps the operator has taken under regulation 4(4); and

(b) the consequences assessed in accordance with regulation 5, including any variable factors which might affect the severity of the emergency.

(3) The operator’s emergency plan shall—

(a) contain the information set out in Part 1 of Schedule 5; and

(b) be drawn up in accordance with the principles and purposes set out in Schedule 6.

(4) The operator shall not require any person to carry out work with ionising radiation, and no person shall carry out such work unless—

(a) the operator has complied with the requirements of paragraph (1); and

(b) the Executive has complied with its duties in connection with the off-site emergency plan as set out in regulation 11, and has confirmed this to the operator in writing.

(5) The operator shall, when preparing the emergency plan, or reviewing it under regulation 12(1), consult—

(a) the operator’s employees;

(b) any persons carrying out work on behalf of the operator and who the operator considers might be affected by a radiation emergency;

(c) the Executive;

(d) the health authority;

(e) the Public Health Agency(1);

(f) the emergency services; and

(g) such other persons, bodies or authorities as the operator considers appropriate.

(6) The operator shall ensure that any employee on site is or has been provided with such suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training as they require in relation to a radiation emergency.

(7) The operator shall ensure that any emergency worker who may be involved with or may be affected by arrangements in the operator’s emergency plan is or has been provided with—

(a) suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training;

(b) any equipment necessary to perform the functions allocated to them by the operator’s emergency plan; and

(c) any equipment necessary to restrict their exposure to ionising radiation including, where appropriate, the issue of suitable dosemeters or other devices.

(8) In the case of a person who is not employed by the operator, the information, instruction, training and equipment required by paragraph (7) relates only to specialised equipment to be used on the operator’s premises in accordance with the operator’s emergency plan, and which the operator does not expect the person to have received or have available already.

(9) An operator which has prepared an emergency plan in accordance with this regulation shall—

(a) review that plan as a consequence of any review required by regulation 6; and

(b) update the plan, if necessary, as a consequence of a review undertaken in accordance with sub-paragraph (a).

(10) The operator shall retain the emergency plan on the premises to which it relates, and shall provide details of that plan to the Executive upon request and within such reasonable time as the Executive may request.

(1)

The Public Health Agency is formally known as the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being, established by section 12 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009