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> Directive 2013/59/EURATOM came into force today!

Directive 2013/59/EURATOM came into force today!

06/02/2014



The Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom came into force today, 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 January 2014. 

The relevant article with regards to cosmic radiation for air crews is Article 35 which sets out two different thresholds:

A. Where the effective dose to the crew is liable to be exceed 1 mSv per year, the parties shall take appropriate actions to: 
  • assess the exposure of the crew concerned
  • take into account the assessed exposure when organising working schedules with a view to reducing the doses of highly exposed crew
  • inform the workers concerned of the health risks their work involves and their individual dose
  • special consideration for pregnant air crew (Art 10(1)). 


B. Where the effective dose to the crew is liable to exceed 6 mSv per year, more stringent requirements shall apply, allowing for the specific features of this exposure situation.

In other words, if a crewmember is above 1 mSv and below 6 mSv he/she is considered to be a radiation worker category B, in which case his employer should fulfill the requirements as mentioned in Art 35 sub-paragraphs a, b, c, and d.

If he/she exceeds 6 mSv he is to be considered as a category A radiation worker, and his/her employer has now the obligation to apply with the requirements as lined out in the Art 40 to 49. For example storing the medical and radiation reports until the person in question reaches or would have reached the age of 75 years, but at least for 30 years after the latest exposure year exceeding 6 mSv.
 
Article 107 says that the original Directive 96/29/Euratom is repealed with effect from 6 February 2018, which means that the Directive 96/29/Euratom will be valid until 6 February 2018.

> Download the new Directive 2013/59/EURATOM
> Read the Official Journal of the European Union
> Visit the European Commission Radiation protection web page Back to all Verifavia News