Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Implementation of emergency plans

13.—(1) An operator or carrier who has prepared (or, in relation to a carrier, has ensured that there has been prepared) an emergency plan pursuant to regulation 7 or 8, as the case may be, shall take reasonable steps to put it, or such parts of it as are necessary, into effect without delay when—

(a) a radiation emergency occurs, or

(b) an event occurs which could reasonably be expected to lead to a radiation emergency,

and shall notify such occurrence to the Executive without delay.

(2) Where the Executive has arranged for the preparation of an emergency plan pursuant to regulation 9, it shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the emergency plan, or such parts of it as are necessary, is put into effect without delay when informed by the operator that—

(a) a radiation emergency has occurred; or

(b) an event has occurred which could reasonably be expected to lead to a radiation emergency.

(3) In the event of a radiation emergency resulting from his work with ionising radiation, the operator or carrier shall—

(a) as soon as is reasonably practicable, make (or in relation to a carrier ensure that there has been made) a provisional assessment of the circumstances and consequences of such an emergency and for this purpose shall consult—

(i) in the case of the operator, the emergency services, the Executive, the Health and Social Services Board, the Department of the Environment and such other persons, bodies or authorities as have functions under the operator’s emergency plan or the off-site emergency plan; and

(ii) in the case of the carrier, the consignor, the Department of the Environment and any emergency services and Health and Social Services Board who were involved in the response to the emergency and such other persons, bodies or authorities as have functions under the carrier’s emergency plan;

(b) as soon as is practicable and in any event within 12 months or such longer time as the Executive may agree, make (or in relation to a carrier ensure that there has been made) a full assessment of the consequences of that emergency and the effectiveness of the emergency plans put into effect as a result of that emergency; and

(c) within 28 days of the completion of the assessment under sub-paragraph (b) make a report of the findings of the assessment and retain that report or a copy thereof for at least 50 years from the date upon which the report was completed.

(4) The operator or carrier shall provide to the Executive within 28 days of the making of the report under paragraph (3)(c) a copy of that report.