Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Türkiye (Ratification: 1968)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s latest report and the attached documentation, and in the comments submitted by the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), which indicates the relevant legislation adopted recently, including the new regulation on personal protective equipment, dated 29 November 2006, the regulation on nuclear safety controls and sanctions dated 13 September 2007, and the regulation on high-activity covered radioactive sources and unclaimed sources, dated 21 March 2009. The Committee also notes, in particular, the regulation on the radiation dose limits for staff working with sources of ionizing radiation in the public health sector, published on 6 October 2007, which supplements the regulations and rules on radiation safety already in place, and appears to extend the coverage of the Convention in relation to public health staff. The Committee notes with interest the requirement under section 7 of this regulation that all staff working with radiation must wear personal dosimeters and that as of 6 April 2008, physicians, nurses, nuclear medicine technicians and personnel working in a hot laboratory must wear a wrist or face dosimeter in addition to the routine body dosimeter. The Committee also notes the information indicating draft legislation is currently being prepared and studied by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority. The Committee asks the Government to send a copy of relevant legislation once it has been adopted, and to continue to provide information on relevant legislative amendments undertaken with regards to the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government which indicates that, as a result of periodical radio-isometric follow-up of the 27,800 registered users employed in radiation applications, approximately 20 are sent to health organizations per year with suspected high doses due to negligence, carelessness and other causes under normal working conditions. The Committee also notes the attached communication by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions indicating that implementation of the Convention in practice requires the sharing of relevant statistics and data on labour inspections. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on measures taken to address cases of exposure to radiation due to negligence and carelessness, and to continue to provide information on the application of this Convention in practice, including relevant statistics and data on labour inspections.