Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Belgium (Ratification: 1965)

1. In its previous direct request, the Committee drew the Government's attention to the new maximum dose limits adopted in 1990 by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) on the basis of new physiological findings. The Committee notes that in its last report the Government states that the procedure for incorporating the ICRP Recommendations in national legislation will begin as soon as a European directive has been adopted on the subject. Referring to its general observation of 1992 on this Convention, the Committee again recalls that these recommendations have a bearing on the application of the Convention, in view of the references to "knowledge available at the time" and "current knowledge" in Articles 3, paragraph 1, and 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. It trusts that the Government will shortly be in a position to report the adoption of new maximum permissible doses which conform to the recommendations adopted in 1990 by the ICRP and which were reproduced in 1994 in the International Basic Safety Standards jointly sponsored by the IAEA, the WHO, the ILO and three other international organizations.

2. Protection against accidents and during emergencies. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on emergency measures. It asks the Government to provide additional information on the circumstances in which special exposure of workers may be authorized, and the measures to optimize protection against accidents and during emergency operations, particularly as regards the design and protective features of the workplace and equipment and the development of techniques for use in emergency operations to avoid the exposure of individuals to ionizing radiation.

3. Provision of alternative employment. The Committee notes the data on the radiation doses received by workers exposed or purportedly exposed during 1990. It notes in particular that medical monitoring of 33,655 workers from different branches of activity revealed that 390 workers had received a dose of between 15 and 50 mSv in the course of the year and that, in three cases, the dose of 50 mSv had been exceeded. The Government also states that, in these three cases, the reasons for the excess doses have been established (the incorrect application of safety measures, poor working conditions and inadequate means of individual protection) and that measures have been taken to remedy them. The Committee asks the Government to specify what consequences doses which are in excess of the normally tolerated levels have for the employment of the workers concerned.

The Committee also notes the adoption of the Royal Order of 25 April 1997 respecting the protection of workers against risks arising out of ionizing radiation. The Committee notes with interest that the Order reinforces medical supervision both of workers in enterprises with sources of radiations and of workers from outside enterprises who are brought in to intervene in a controlled area, and asks the Government to state whether, when the medical officer decides on the basis of medical indications to remove a worker from his job, as he is empowered to do by sections 17 and 18 of the above Order, provision is made for the worker concerned to be given an alternative job which does not involve exposure to radiations.