Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Sweden (Ratification: 1961)

I. he Committee notes the information provided in the Government's report in reply to its general observation of 1987 and the adoption of the Radiation Protection Act of 19 May 1988 (1988:220) and the Radiation Protection Ordinance (1988:293) and the Regulations of the State Radiation Institute respecting dose limits for work with ionizing radiation of 17 March 1989 (SSI FS 1989:1).

II. The Committee would refer the Government to its general observation of 1992 under this Convention which sets forth the latest recommendations made by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) concerning exposure to ionizing radiations (Publication No. 60 of 1990) and requests the Government to provide further information on the following points.

1. Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2

(a) The Committee notes that Regulation 6 of SSI FS 1989:1 sets forth dose limits for persons in work involving exposure to ionizing radiations equivalent to the 1977 recommendations of the ICRP (i.e. 50 mSv per year). Paragraph 11 of the general observation of 1992 under this Convention sets forth the latest recommendations made by the ICRP in 1990 concerning dose limits for occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. The ICRP now recommends a limit on the effective dose of 20 mSv per year, averaged over five years (100 mSv in five years), but not to exceed 50 mSv in any single year. The Government is requested to indicate in its next report the steps taken or envisaged to amend the dose limits for occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in the light of the current knowledge as reflected in the 1990 ICRP Recommendations.

(b) The Committee would refer the Government to paragraph 13 of the general observation concerning dose limits for pregnant women. It notes with interest that Regulations 8 and 14 of 1989:1 grant pregnant women the right to be transferred to work where there is no ionizing radiation for the remainder of their pregnancy. It further notes paragraph 2 of Regulation 8 provides that the work of pregnant women who are not transferred must be planned in a manner to ensure that the dose equivalent to the foetus throughout the pregnancy does not exceed 5 mSv and that it is unlikely that the dose equivalent to the foetus exceeds 0.5 mSv within any calendar month after the pregnancy has been ascertained. In its latest recommendations, the ICRP has concluded that women who may be pregnant should be provided with a standard of protection for any unborn child broadly comparable with that provided for members of the general public (i.e. effective dose not to exceed 1 mSv per year) and that the equivalent dose limit to the surface of the woman's abdomen should not exceed 2 mSv for the remainder of the pregnancy. The Government is requested to indicate the steps taken or envisaged to ensure effective protection of pregnant women who are not transferred to work not involving exposure to ionizing radiations in the light of the current knowledge as reflected in the latest ICRP recommendations.

2. Article 8. The Committee would refer the Government to paragraph 14 which indicates that the dose limits for non-radiation workers should be equivalent to those set for members of the general public (now recommended by the ICRP to be 1 mSv per year averaged over any five consecutive years and 15 mSv for the lens of the eye). The Committee notes that in Appendix 2 of SSI FS 1989:1 it is indicated that, in general (in contrast with persons employed in activities involving exposure to ionizing radiation), the effective dose limit is 1 mSv. It further notes that Regulation 16 provides that the effective dose equivalent for the public should not exceed 1 mSv per year, but that in individual years, may rise to 5 mSv if the average throughout a lifetime is expected to be lower than 1 mSv per year. Furthermore, the dose equivalent set for the lens of the eye in this Regulation corresponds to the 1977 ICRP recommendations (i.e. 50 mSv). The Goverment is requested to indicate whether the dose limits for the general public are indeed also applicable to persons working in enterprises involving exposure to ionizing radiation but not directly engaged in radiation work and to indicate the steps taken or envisaged to ensure that non-radiation workers are not exposed to ionizing radiation in excess of 1 mSv per year averaged over any five consecutive years and to dose equivalents for the lens of the eye in excess of 15 mSv.

III. The Committee would refer the Government to paragraphs 28 to 34 of its general observation concerning the provision of alternative employment. It notes that section 17 of the Radiation Protection Act provides that the performance of certain types of work involving special risks with respect to radiation protection for certain employees may be prohibited for such employees. Under section 18, paragraph 2, a person whose medical examination indicates that he or she runs a special risk of injury if exposed to ionizing radiations may not be employed in work involving such exposure without the permission of the Government or authority empowered by the Government. Furthermore, Regulation 6 of SSI FS 1989:1 sets a dose equivalent limit at 180 mSv for a thirty-year old and 700 mSv for a lifetime. The Government is requested to indicate whether any steps have been taken by means of legislation or in practice to ensure alternative employment opportunities not involving exposure to ionizing radiations for workers having accumulated an effective dose beyond which detriment considered unacceptable is to arise.

IV. The Committee would refer the Government to paragraphs 16 to 27 of its general observation concerning the limitation of occupational exposure during and after an emergency. It notes that Regulation 13 of SSI FS 1989:1 permits exposure, on a voluntary basis, to radiation in excess of twice the annual dose limits in cases of serious emergency. The radiation is, however, to be limited as much as possible, having regard to the purpose of the action. The Government is requested to indicate in its next report the measures taken with respect to the matters raised in paragraph 35(c) of its general observation, in particular as concerns the strict definition of circumstances in which exceptional exposure of workers, exceeding the normally tolerated dose limit, is to be allowed for "immediate and urgent remedial work".