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Radioactive substances come in radiation types and are used in a diverse range of industrial, medical, research and communications applications. Although these applications bring real benefits to people living in the UK, some can create potentially harmful exposure risks that must be effectively controlled.<\/p>\n
The subject of radioactive substances is far larger than we can cover in this short video, but basically, there are two types of radiation that are an issue. Ionising and non-ionising radiation.<\/p>\n
Ionising radiation occurs as either electromagnetic rays (such as X-rays and gamma rays) or particles (such as alpha and beta particles). If you intend to start work with ionising radiation for the first time, you need to let HSE know at least 28 days before you start work, and you must notify HSE if there are any material changes to the work details you previously notified us about.<\/p>\n
To protect workers and members of the public from the effects of ionising radiation, dose limits are set at a level that balances the risk from exposure with the benefits of ionising radiation. Dose limits are intended to reduce the risk of serious effects occurring, such as cancer, and are in place to protect the eyes, skin and extremities against other forms of damage. Dose limits are defined in UK legislation<\/a> and can be found in Schedule 4 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.<\/p>\n Non-ionising radiation (NIR) is the term used to describe the part of the electromagnetic spectrum covering two main regions, namely optical radiation (ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared) and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) (power frequencies, microwaves and radio frequencies).