The Air Navigation (Cosmic Radiation) Order 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order implements article 42 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 which lays down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation (OJ No L 159, 29.6.96, p. 1).

The Order requires an undertaking established in the United Kingdom which operates aircraft to take appropriate measures to assess the in flight exposure to cosmic radiation of air crew who are liable to be subject to cosmic radiation in excess of 1 milliSievert per year, to take into account the assessed exposure when organising work schedules and to inform the workers concerned of the health risks their work involves.

Additional provision is made for air crew who are pregnant so that the dose to the foetus will be as low as reasonably achievable and unlikely to exceed 1 milliSievert during the remainder of the pregnancy.

The Order also requires an undertaking to keep a record of the assessed exposure to cosmic radiation, to produce that record on request to the Civil Aviation Authority and to supply a copy on request to the air crew concerned.

The Order creates criminal offences with a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum on summary conviction and on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

For the purposes of measuring exposure to cosmic radiation pursuant to article 42 of the Directive the Order appoints the Secretary of State as the competent authority to authorise use of methods equivalent to those stipulated in the Directive.