Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Portugal (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes the observations made by the General Union of Workers (UGT), received on 22 December 2014. The committee notes that according to the UGT, a series of specific measures are required to improve radiological protection in facilities of the health sector, namely undertaking a global review of the legal framework to address the fragmentation of the legislation and the difficulties of its effective implementation, the establishment of an independent regulatory authority to address the current distribution of the legal responsibilities among different entities, and the improvement of monitoring activities and training. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments with respect to the observations made by the UGT.

The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government in its report, in reply to its previous request, concerning the effect given to Article 8 of the Convention on the dose limits for workers not directly engaged in radiation work and Article 14 on the offer of alternative employment to workers who can no longer perform work involving exposure to ionizing radiations.

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 1 and 12 of the Convention. Medical examinations. Type and frequency of medical examinations. Legislation. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that section 13 of legislative Decree No. 222/2008 regulated the question of medical examinations. It further noted paragraph 1 of this section which provides that the health surveillance of workers exposed to radiation should be carried out by specialized services approved by the Directorate General of Health based on criteria to be published in an order. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on regulations published in application of section 13.1 of legislative Decree No. 222/2008.