The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is conducting an inspection campaign targeting chiropractors who use radiation generators.
The regulator's inspections will assess dutyholders' compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17), which protect employees and other persons from occupational radiation exposure.
To help dutyholders understand the requirements of an inspection, the HSE has created an online video outlining the expectations of the visit and the areas inspectors will be assessing compliance on, including:
- Management of radiation protection
- Radiation risk assessment
- Engineering controls and maintenance
- Contingency plans
- Training records
- Designation and monitoring of controlled areas
- Local rules and radiation protection supervisors
- Personal dosimetry
All employers with staff operating radiation generators must register with HSE through the online RADAN system.
Duncan Smith, Head of the Health and Safety Executive's Health Unit, stated that "medical ionising radiation is employed widely across the industry" and inspections will occur "throughout January until the end of March."
"Our inspections will examine construction, warning devices, safety features and any mobile shielding used. Employers should prepare relevant records, Radiation Protection Adviser reports, critical examination reports and training certificates for review, while operators may be asked to demonstrate equipment and warning systems."
The HSE created a video to explain the inspection process to dutyholders unfamiliar with previous visits.
HSE inspectors will contact registered employers in advance to arrange convenient inspection times and request documentation ahead of visits. This ensures the radiation responsible person is present, equipment is available, and disruption is minimised.
Following an inspection, HSE will provide a summary of compliance standards found, any material breaches identified, and whether enforcement action will be taken. Where material breaches are identified, HSE has enforcement options available, from verbal advice through to prosecution.
The Approved Code of Practice and guidance for working with ionising radiation is freely available for dutyholders on HSE's website.