Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Denmark (Ratification: 1974)

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 7(1) of the Convention. Performance of work involving exposure to ionizing radiation by young persons. With reference to its previous request, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that in addition to compulsory schooling, young persons must have accomplished further education to qualify for an education programme that might involve exposure to ionizing radiation. The Government states that trainees who might be exposed to ionizing radiation are above the age of 18 years.

Article 12. Medical examinations. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that medical examinations are required for workers who engage in work under conditions which normally involve exposure to ionizing radiation in doses exceeding 6 mSv per year or three-tenths of the limits for the lens of the eye, skin and extremities, as provided for in Order No. 823 of 31 October 1997, Annex 1. The Committee recalls that Article 8 of the Convention requires the fixing of appropriate levels for workers who are not directly engaged in radiation work, and it refers in this respect to its general observation of 2015 that indicated that the annual effect dose limit for workers not directly engaged in radiation work should be 1 mSv per year, in line with the Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards (General Safety Requirements Part 3), issued in July 2014 by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In special circumstances, a higher value of effective dose could be allowed in a single year, provided that the average over five years does not exceed 1 mSv per year. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that all workers directly engaged in radiation work (including those workers directly engaged in radiation work whose exposure is below the levels set out in Order No. 823) undergo an appropriate medical examination prior to or shortly after taking up such work and to undergo subsequently further medical examinations at appropriate intervals, in accordance with Article 12.

Article 14. Alternative employment or other measures offered for maintaining income where continued assignment to work involving exposure is medically inadvisable. With reference to its previous comments concerning employers’ responsibilities for providing their workers with alternative employment, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the unemployment insurance fund from which workers benefit if they are medically considered unable to continue to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation.