Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Mexico (Ratification: 1983)

General observation of 2015. The Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to its general observation of 2015 under this Convention, and in particular to the request for information contained in paragraph 30 thereof.

Articles 3(1) and 6(2) of the Convention. Maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiation. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report, and particularly the new Mexican Official Standard NOM-012-STPS-2012 which establishes occupational safety and health conditions in workplaces using sources of ionizing radiations and sets out, inter alia, the obligation of employers to prevent the dose exposure limits from exceeding those set out in the General Radiological Safety Regulations of 1988. The Committee notes that, in accordance with sections 6, 20, 21 and 31 of those Regulations: (1) the internal occupational radiation exposure limit in any single year is the equivalent of the effective dose of 50 mSv (5 rem); (2) the effective dose to the lens of the eye of 150 mSv (15 rem); and (3) the effective dose to any other organ or tissue of 500 mSv (50 rem). Furthermore, in the case of students between 16 and 18 years of age, the radiation exposure limit to the whole body in any single year is 15 mSv. Referring to paragraphs 11, 13, 32 and 34 of its 2015 general observation, the Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the most recent recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (KRP), according to which the limits should be: (1) 20 mSv per year averaged over defined five-year periods, with a maximum of 50 mSv effective dose in any one year; (2) an equivalent dose for skin and the hands and feet of 500 mSv per year; and (3) an equivalent dose to the lens of the eye of 20 mSv per year, averaged over defined periods of five years, with no single year exceeding 50 mSv per year. For apprentices or students between 16 and 18 years of age, the limits are the following: (a) an effective dose of 6 mSv in a year; (b) an equivalent dose to the lens of the eye of 20 mSv in a year; and (c) an equivalent dose to the extremities of 150 mSv in a year. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures adopted to revise the established maximum permissible doses, particularly concerning ionizing radiation to the lens of the eye, in the light of the current knowledge in the area.

Article 14. Discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation pursuant to medical advice and alternative employment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the application in practice of the Collective Labour Agreement 35/XXII, concluded between the United Trade Union of Workers in the Nuclear Industry and the National Nuclear Research Institute. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, according to which persons occupationally exposed must undergo medical examinations every six months and, in the event that those workers have been affected by doses exceeding the limits and cannot continue to carry out the work of the post they occupy, they must be assigned another post that is compatible with their capacities, without any loss of salary or other benefits. The Committee also notes the specific procedures to give effect to the collective agreement and that, to date, only one case has been registered of removing a worker further to medical advice.