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

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

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.

Article 5 of the Convention. Restricting exposure to ionizing radiation. In its previous comment, the Committee requested information on measures taken to restrict the exposure of workers to ionizing radiation to the lowest practicable level, and that any unnecessary exposure is to be avoided. The Committee notes the indication of the Government, in its report, that the whole system of radiation protection introduced by the Act No. 18/1997 Coll., the Atomic Act, and implementing regulations has the objective to limit radiation or prevent persons’ unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation. The Committee notes in this respect section 4 of Act No. 18/1997 Coll. and chapter IV of the Decree of the State Nuclear Safety Office No. 307/2002 Coll., which give effect to this provision.

Articles 6(2) and 7. Appropriate levels for workers under the age of 18. Review of permissible doses in the light of current knowledge. In its previous comment, the Committee requested additional information on measures taken to ensure that workers under the age of 16 are not engaged in work involving ionizing radiation. In this regard, the Committee notes with interest that section 5(1)(e) of Decree No. 180/2015 concerning prohibited works and workplaces, which came into effect on 1 September 2015, explicitly prohibits workers younger than 18 years from working with sources of ionizing radiation. The Committee further notes that section 5(4)(d) of this Decree provides an exception for persons aged between 16 and 18 years of age for the sole purpose of vocational training, and that section 21(1) of Decree No. 307/2002 sets the maximum permissible doses for apprentices and students aged between 16 and 18, that is an effective dose of 6 mSv in a year, the equivalent dose to the lens of the eye of 50 mSv in a year, and an equivalent dose for the skin area of 150 mSv in a year. Recalling that under Article 6(2) of the Convention, maximum permissible doses shall be kept under constant review in the light of current knowledge, and referring to paragraphs 13 and 34 of its 2015 general observation, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the most recent standards in this respect, which provide that the dose limit for apprentices and students aged between 16 and 18 is, as regards the lens of the eye, an equivalent dose of 20 mSv in a year. The other dose limits for this category of persons are not changed. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to reduce the equivalent dose to the lens of the eye from 50 mSv per year to 20 mSv per year for workers aged between 16 and 18, in light of its 2015 general observation.

Article 8. Dose limits for workers not directly engaged in radiation work. With reference to its previous comment concerning dose limits set out in section 23(1) of Decree No. 307/2002, the Committee takes note of the explanation of the Government that this provision concerns persons who are willingly exposed to radiation beyond the frame of their obligations and within the framework of medical exposure.