The Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement, as respects Great Britain, the provisions of Council Directive 84/466/Euratom (OJ No. L265, 5.10.84, p.1) laying down basic measures for the radiation protection of persons undergoing medical examination or treatment.

The Regulations require every exposure of a person to ionising radiation for a diagnostic or therapeutic purpose to be carried out under the responsibility of a person who is clinically directing such exposure and in accordance with accepted diagnostic or therapeutic practice (regulation 4). Only persons who have received adequate training may direct a medical exposure (regulation 5). Proof of adequate training may be provided by means of a certificate attesting to a person’s training (regulation 6). Employers are under an obligation to ensure compliance with the training requirements; to keep a record of the particulars of training of persons they employ and a record of radiation equipment (regulations 7, 8 and 9); they must ensure that expert advice is available to their staff (regulation 10).

The Regulations are made enforceable as health and safety regulations under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the enforcing authority being the Health and Safety Executive, except for regulation 4 and those aspects of the Regulations which relate to the administration of radioactive medicinal products (nuclear medicine), for which the enforcing authority is the Secretary of State (regulation 11). It is a defence to proceedings for an offence under the Regulations that all reasonable steps were taken and due diligence exercised (regulation 12).