Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Greece (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report. Further to its previous observation, the Committee would like to draw the Government's attention to the following points.

1. Article 3, in conjunction with Article 6.2, of the Convention. The Committee notes section 1.2.1 of Ministerial Decision No. 14632/(FOR) 1416/1989, providing for the maximum permissible dose of ionizing radiation of 50 mSv per year (5 rem/year) for workers directly engaged in radiation work. The Committee further notes that section 1.3.4 of this Ministerial Decision provides for the immediate implementation of EU Directives setting up lower dose limits. In this respect, the Committee notes article 9 of the revised EURATOM Basic Safety Standards Directive (96/92/EURATOM) prescribing a dose limit of 100 Sv in a consecutive five-year period which constitutes an annual average of 20 mSv. This dose limit is also indicated in the 1990 recommendation of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) to which the 1992 general observation of the Committee refers in order to define the term "knowledge available at the time ...", included in Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated with a view to revising the maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiation currently in force for workers directly engaged in radiation work.

2. Article 13 of the Convention. The Committee notes the provision 1.2.3 of Ministerial Decision No. 14632/(FOR) 1416/1989 concerning planned special exposure, which provides, inter alia, that the exposure to ionizing radiation should not exceed twice the average annual occupational dose limit. The Committee draws the Government's attention to paragraphs 16 to 27 of its 1992 general observation under the Convention dealing with the limitation of occupational exposure during and after an emergency, where the Committee observed that the ICRP in its 1990 recommendations has largely abandoned the limitations previously established for planned special exposures. The relaxation of control during the first stage of emergency situations should nevertheless not lead to an exposure exceeding 0.5 Sv (that is, 25 times the average annual occupational dose limit), except for life-saving actions. The equivalent dose to the skin should not exceed 5 mSv. However, stringent criteria should define the exceptional circumstances in which normal exposure limits might be exceeded. In the second stage of an emergency intervention the normal dose limits are applicable. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the steps taken or envisaged in relation to the matters raised in its 1992 general observation under the Convention and, in particular, in the conclusions under paragraph 35(c), as well as on measures envisaged to ensure conformity with the above-described principles.