Purpose: This Regulation has been prepared and compiled for the purpose of the proper implementation of the Radiation Protection Act, approved in 1368 (1989).
Definitions:
1) In this Regulation, “the Act” refers to the Radiation Protection Act.
2) “Ionizing radiation” – for the purposes of radiation protection – refers to radiation such as X-rays, gamma rays, beta, neutron, alpha, and other atomic particles capable of causing ionization in matter.
3) “Non-ionizing radiation” – for the purposes of radiation protection – refers to radiation such as ultraviolet, infrared, microwave, laser, radio waves, and the like, which are not capable of causing ionization in matter.
4) “Employment licence” is an official document issued by the Legal Authority for a period of three years, under Chapter Two of the Act, in connection with the provisions of Article (3) thereof, and subject to compliance with all provisions of the Act, this Regulation, and the standards, rules, and instructions on radiation protection, except for cases exempted under the standards of the Legal Authority.
5) “Holder of an employment licence” is a person who receives the licence from the Legal Authority, under Chapter Two of the Act, for the purpose of the necessary actions specified therein.
6) “Person” refers to any person, whether natural or legal, or the official representative or successor of either.
7) “Radiation worker” refers to a natural person who is physically in contact with sources of radioactive material, and includes radiation workers of Group A and Group B.
(a) Group A radiation worker refers to a natural person who works under conditions in which the annual dose may exceed 3% of the annual dose equivalent limit.
(b) Group B radiation worker refers to a natural person who works under conditions in which the annual dose received does not normally exceed 3% of the annual dose equivalent limit.
The performance of any activity related to the matters set out in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article (3) of the Act, where the power of the radiation-generating sources is below the standard determined by the Legal Authority, does not require obtaining an employment licence.
The health physics officer shall hold at least a diploma degree in one of the scientific and technical fields, have relevant work experience in the field of radiation protection, have completed specialized training courses as determined by the Legal Authority, and be in complete physical and mental health.
Note: In special activities involving work with radiation, such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, large radiology centres, nuclear centres, and universities, the minimum education of the health physics officer shall be a bachelor's degree in scientific and technical fields related to radiation.
The responsible person shall, in the field relevant to the scope of the requested licence, hold at least a bachelor's degree in one of the scientific and technical fields related to radiation, and be in complete physical and mental health.
Note 1 – Under special circumstances, in non-medical matters, and in the event of a shortage of specialists in the relevant field, holders of at least a diploma degree with at least six (6) years of relevant experience in work with radiation, who have passed the relevant examinations, may, as determined by the Legal Authority, serve as the responsible person.
Note 2 – In matters of medical diagnosis and treatment, the responsible person shall hold a doctoral degree and specialization related to radiation.
For the issuance of an employment licence, the following actions shall, as applicable, be carried out by the applicant holding an operating licence, and the necessary documents shall be submitted to the Legal Authority at least two months before undertaking the activities referred to in Article (3) of the Act.
(a) Pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter Two of the Act, nomination of one person as the responsible person and one person as the health physics officer, with the level of education and specialization referred to in Articles 4 and 5 of this Regulation, together with submission of educational and specialization certificates and records of work with radiation.
(b) Submission of comprehensive project information relating to the work with radiation for which the licence is requested, with justification and description of the necessity of carrying out the project and its benefits to society compared with other available methods, such that the radiation exposure of personnel and the public is reduced to the lowest possible level.
(c) Submission of scientific and technical reports, including building plans, facilities, wastewater and waste disposal systems, and the like, as necessary.
(d) Submission of the complete technical specifications of the equipment, devices, and facilities used for work with radiation (with attached drawings, catalogues, calculations, and the like).
(e) Submission of a complete list of protective safety equipment and devices used in the project.
(f) Where the proposed project has the potential to cause environmental radioactivity, submission of an environmental report and a comprehensive plan of the equipment needed to prevent environmental contamination, together with the related measurement systems.
(g) Submission of an emergency procedure for dealing with accidents under emergency conditions.
(h) Submission of educational and experience records, and retraining and training records, of radiation workers and relevant personnel.
(i) Submission of the agreement in principle of the relevant ministry, organisation, or any other relevant body.
Note – A request for issuance of a licence does not create any obligation on the Legal Authority to issue the licence where the applicant does not meet the necessary and sufficient conditions.
The holder of an employment licence shall submit a request for renewal two months before the expiry of the validity period of their licence.
When a request for renewal of the licence is made in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation, the existing licence – provided it has not previously been suspended or revoked pursuant to Article (17) of the Act – shall remain valid until the renewal or issuance of a new licence, or its revocation.
In special cases of work with radiation involving limited activity (in terms of number of sources, [term unclear in source], radiation output, and application), based on the standards of the Legal Authority, and where the Legal Authority determines that the laws, regulations, standards, rules, and instructions on radiation protection may be properly complied with by one or two qualified natural persons, such persons may assume the responsibilities of the natural person holding the licence, the responsible person, and the health physics officer.
In general, obtaining a licence comprises the submission of a written request with the required documents, registration of the request, review of the request, inspection, initial authorisation, and operating authorisation. Completing these stages, in view of the complexity of work with radiation, is a scientific and technical necessity.
In cases of limited work with radiation, or for a period not exceeding one year, or in special cases and where necessary as determined by the Legal Authority, a time-limited authorisation with the conditions specified therein may be issued instead of a licence.
The responsible person shall be aware of the consequences arising from failure to comply with the provisions of the Act and this Regulation, and shall accept the related responsibilities.
The health physics officer shall undertake the radiation protection duties within the limited scope of the licensed activity, and shall knowingly accept the related responsibilities.
The holder of the employment licence, the responsible person, and the radiation workers shall accept and implement the instructions and recommendations of the health physics officer, based on the laws, regulations, this Regulation, standards, and recommendations of the Legal Authority, and shall provide him with the resources necessary for the protection of the persons within the scope of the licence.
Pursuant to Article (9) of the Act, the holder of the employment licence shall subject all persons assigned to work with radiation, before and after employment, periodically during employment, and under emergency conditions, to the necessary medical examinations and tests and specialized tests, and shall make the relevant records available to the Legal Authority.
Note 1 – Initial medical tests and examinations shall not be conducted earlier than one month before the commencement of work with radiation.
Note 2 – For each radiation worker covered by the licence, a personal file shall be established containing all individual information, including radiation exposure records and the results of medical tests and examinations.
Note 3 – Where it is determined at any stage, on the basis of medical tests and examinations, that the continuation of work with radiation is harmful to a person, the responsible person and the health physics officer shall prevent that person from continuing to work with radiation.
Note 4 – Group A radiation workers shall undergo complete medical tests and examinations at least once every six months, Group B radiation workers at least once every year, and both groups under emergency conditions, as determined and recommended by the Legal Authority.
Note 5 – Medical tests and examinations shall be conducted in accordance with the instructions of the Legal Authority.
Note 6 – Where a radiation worker changes their place of work, their records of work with radiation, medical records, and radiation exposure records shall be transferred in their entirety to the new place of work.
In the event of an accident or suspected radiation exposure of any natural person arising from work with radiation within the scope of its licence, the holder of the employment licence shall subject that person to medical tests and examinations and shall continue the necessary medical care until their health is confirmed.
Note 1 – All costs of medical tests and examinations, whether pre-employment, periodic, or under emergency conditions, are borne by the holder of the employment licence.
Persons between 16 and 18 years of age engaged in training and research courses may, only within Working Group (B) and provided that they comply with the laws, regulations, and standards on radiation protection, be exempted from the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article (10) of Chapter Two of the Act, upon obtaining authorisation from the Legal Authority.
The fees for services provided by the Legal Authority are collected, until a new tariff is issued, in accordance with the tariff approved by the Council of Ministers on 1367/3/18 (1988).
For the purpose of implementing paragraph (3) of Article (20) of the Special Provisions of the Act, the following matters shall be mandatory.
1) The service and the additional service credited under paragraph (3) of Article (20) of the Act shall be a maximum of 30 years.
2) The final determination of records of work with radiation and the crediting of additional service is subject to the approval of the Legal Authority.
3) Where a person retires under this Regulation and it is subsequently established that they obtained this entitlement through fraud or fabrication of documents, they shall be wholly deprived of the benefit under paragraph (3) of Article (20) and shall be liable to repay all sums paid to them, and damages arising therefrom shall be recovered from them.
The crediting of records of work with radiation for the purposes of severance, retirement, disability, and the determination of pension entitlement is as follows:
(a) For employees with Group A radiation, one additional year of accepted service per year of service, up to a maximum of ten years.
(b) For employees with Group B radiation, six months of additional accepted service per year of service, up to a maximum of five years.
Note 1 – In respect of persons who, before the approval of the Act, were continuously engaged in work with radiation as determined by the Legal Authority, only paragraph (3) of Article (20) of the Act shall be mandatory.
Any person who retires under the Act and this Regulation shall not be permitted to be re-employed in work with radiation.
For the purpose of implementing the provisions of Article (20) of the Act (except for paragraph 3), the following benefits accrue, as applicable, to persons continuously engaged in work with radiation, and shall be mandatory as of the date of approval of the Act (1368/1/20 (1989)).
(a) Group A radiation workers shall receive up to a maximum of 100% of the benefits set out in paragraphs 1, 2, and 4 of Article 20 of the Act, under the following conditions:
– Based on the employee's conditions, including experience of work with radiation, radiation protection courses, compliance with radiation protection principles, and the extent of their effect: up to 25%
– Based on the working environment conditions: up to 75%
This shall be applied and paid by the holders of the employment licence.
(b) Group B radiation workers shall receive up to a maximum of 60% of the benefits set out in paragraphs 1, 2, and 4 of Article 20 of the Act, under the following conditions:
– Based on the employee's conditions, including experience of work with radiation, radiation protection courses, compliance with radiation protection principles, and the extent of their effect: up to 15%
– Based on the working environment conditions: up to 45%
This shall be applied and paid by the holders of the employment licence.
Note 1 – The above-mentioned benefits shall be subject to change in the event of a change in the conditions of this Regulation or in the individual's working conditions.
Note 2 – The determination of the percentage relating to the employee's conditions and the working environment shall be based on instructions prepared and approved by a commission composed of representatives of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, a representative of the Plan and Budget Organization of the country, and a representative of the Administrative and Employment Organization of the country. That commission shall be established within the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
In view of the rapid changes in the knowledge of radiation protection, the provisions of this Regulation may be revised once every two years, and, where necessary or urgent, as determined by the Legal Authority and following approval by the Government.
This decree shall be effective from 1396/1/1 (2017).
Hassan Habibi – First Vice President.