Exemption from licensing

The following classes of persons are exempted from the requirement to hold an authorisation to handle or operate radiation sources under the Radiation Protection and Control Act 1982 (RPC Act):

• Persons who operate closed cabinet X-ray equipment for the examination of letters, packages, baggage, freight and other articles that has been designed and constructed so as to prevent a person entering the cabinet while the equipment is being put to its normal use.
• Persons who operate apparatus according to the instructions of a veterinary surgeon who:

– holds a licence under section 31 of the RPC Act, and

– is present in the room or other place in which the apparatus is located, and

– is not able to operate the apparatus himself or herself by reason of the nature of the radiological examination being carried out.

• Persons who operate any enclosed X-ray analysis apparatus, but only when the interlocked barriers are in place and who operate such apparatus under the directions of a person who holds a licence under section 31 of the RPC Act.
• Persons who operate for the purposes of industrial radiography an apparatus that is located in a fully protected enclosure, and who operate that apparatus under the directions of a person who holds a licence under section 31 of the RPC Act.
• Persons who use or handle any sealed radioactive source, being a source with an activity of less than the following:

– for group 1 and 2 radionuclides: 5 megabecquerels

– for group 3 and 4 radionuclides (not including tritium in gaseous tritium light sources): 50 megabecquerels;

– for tritium in gaseous tritium light sources: 20 gigabecquerels, and

– who use or handle such a sealed radioactive source under the directions of a person who holds a licence under section 28 of the RPC Act.

• Persons who use a sealed radioactive source that is contained in a radiation gauge but do not use or handle the source at any time other than by operating the source control mechanism under the directions of a person who holds a licence under section 28 of the RPC Act.
• Persons who handle a sealed radioactive source that is contained in a radiation gauge under the direct supervision of a person who holds a licence under section 28 of the RPC Act, and do not dismantle the source container nor handle the source while it is out of the source container.
• Persons who use or handle an unsealed radioactive substance in type C premises and are working under the directions of a person who:

– supervises the persons who work in those premises, and

– holds a licence pursuant to section 28 of the RPC Act entitling the holder to use or handle the radioactive substances used or handled in those premises in the manner in which they are used or handled in those premises.

• Persons, being members of the public, who handle any radioactive substance that is packaged for transport in accordance with the Radiation Protection and Control (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2018.
• Persons who, being members of the nursing staff employed in a hospital ward in which patients are treated by the use of a radioactive substance, are supervised by a registered nurse in charge of that ward who holds a licence under section 28 of the RPC Act that entitling the holder to use or handle such a radioactive substance in that ward.
• Persons who are patients undergoing diagnosis or treatment by use of a radioactive substance.
• Persons who use, for the purpose of industrial radiography, a sealed radioactive source that is located in a fully protected enclosure and who use that source under the supervision of a person who holds a licence under section 28 of the RPC Act.
• Persons who use or handle radioactive ores at mining or mineral processing operations licenced under section 23A or 24 of the RPC Act.

Students working under supervision of a licenced supervisor may not require a licence if:

• operating fully enclosed x-ray analysis equipment
• operating a cabinet x-ray machine
• handle radioactive substances in a Type C laboratory.

In addition there are a number of exemptions that apply to certain users of radiation sources.

For advice on your licensing requirements, please consult your company radiation safety manual or discuss with your Radiation Safety Officer, or contact the EPA.