Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Poland (Ratification: 1964)

The Committee notes with interest the information provided in the Government's report with respect to the application of Article 8 of the Convention. It requests the Government to provide further information on the following points:

1. Article 7, paragraph 2. In its previous comment, the Committee had noted that section 6.1 of Order No. 124 of 31 March 1988 concerning limit doses of ionising radiation and indicators determining the risk connected with ionising radiation provides limit doses for persons from 15 years of age to 18 years. The Committee notes the indication in the Government's report that this paragraph does not concern workers, but rather persons undergoing vocational preparation, including persons trained for work involving ionising radiation sources. The Government adds that young persons under the age of 18 years are prohibited from employment involving ionising radiations by virtue of Order No. 312 of 26 September 1958. The Committee notes with interest the Government's indication that the next amendment to Order No. 124 will take into account the problem of changing the age limit from 15 to 16 years of age also for persons undergoing vocational preparation. The Government is requested to indicate, in its next report, the progress made in this regard.

2. In its previous comment, the Committee had noted that, under section 9 of the "Atomic Law" Act of 10 April 1986, workers intervening in abnormal situations where maximum permissible exposure limits are exceeded do not have the right to refuse such work. The Committee had referred the Government to section 5.8.1 of the ILO Code of Practice on Radiation Protection of Workers which deals with planned special exposure which provides that a worker has the choice of accepting a proposal made by the employer that he or she intervene in an abnormal situation involving special exposure. In its latest report, the Government indicates that the protection of workers in respect of emergency procedure will be determined in detail in further Acts issued in implementation of the Atomic Law. The Government is requested to indicate the progress made in ensuring that workers' intervention in abnormal situations is voluntary.

3. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Order No. 23 of 1989 respecting the specific requirements and conditions for nuclear safety and radiological protection which sets forth measures to be taken and special exposure limits permitted with regard to emergencies. In this regard, the Committee would call the Government's attention to paragraphs 16 to 27 of its General Observation under this Convention. It requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, the steps taken in relation to the matters raised in the conclusions to the General Observation, and, in particular, as concerns paragraph 35(c).