The Space Industry Regulations 2021

Overexposure

141.—(1) Where a spaceflight operator has reasonable cause to believe that a crew member has received an overexposure while performing duties for that operator on board a launch vehicle or a carrier aircraft, the spaceflight operator must immediately conduct an investigation in order to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that no overexposure has occurred (a “negative conclusion”).

(2) If the spaceflight operator is not able to reach a negative conclusion within fourteen days beginning with the date on which the investigation commenced (the “fourteen day period”), an overexposure is deemed to have occurred and the spaceflight operator must—

(a) immediately—

(i) notify the regulator of the overexposure,

(ii) where the crew member is a classified crew member, notify the approved doctor who undertook the crew member’s most recent medical examination or health review of the overexposure, and

(iii) take appropriate steps to notify the crew member affected of the overexposure,

(b) where requested by the crew member, immediately arrange for an approved doctor to undertake a medical examination of the crew member in relation to the overexposure, and

(c) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the fourteen day period, conduct such investigation as is necessary to determine—

(i) the dose of cosmic radiation received by the crew member, so far as is reasonably practicable, and

(ii) the necessary measures, if any, to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the overexposure.

(3) Where an investigation is conducted under paragraph (2)(c), the spaceflight operator must immediately upon the conclusion of the investigation—

(a) notify the regulator, and

(b) take appropriate steps to notify the crew member affected,

of the results of the investigation and any determination as to the necessary measures to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the overexposure.

(4) A spaceflight operator who determines that there are measures necessary to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the overexposure must implement those measures as soon as practicable after such a determination is reached.

(5) A spaceflight operator who conducts an investigation pursuant to paragraph (1) must ensure that a report of the investigation is retained until the second anniversary of the date on which the investigation was commenced.

(6) A spaceflight operator who conducts an investigation pursuant to paragraph (2)(c) must ensure that a report of the investigation is retained until the later of—

(a) the 75th anniversary of the birth of the crew member affected, whether or not the crew member survives until that date, and

(b) the 30th anniversary of the date on which the investigation was commenced.