The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019

Operator’s emergency plan

10.—(1) Where the operator has made an evaluation in accordance with regulation 4(1) which shows that a radiation emergency might arise, the operator must make an adequate emergency plan designed to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the restriction of exposure to ionising radiation and the health and safety of persons who may be affected by radiation emergencies identified by the evaluation.

(2) When preparing an emergency plan, as required by paragraph (1), the operator must take into account—

(a) the steps the operator has taken under regulation 4(4); and

(b) the consequences assessed in accordance with regulation 5, including any variable factors which might affect the severity of the emergency.

(3) The operator’s emergency plan must—

(a) contain the information set out in Part 1 of Schedule 6; and

(b) be drawn up in accordance with the principles and purposes set out in Schedule 7.

(4) The operator must not require any person to carry out work with ionising radiation, and no person shall carry out such work unless—

(a) the operator has complied with the requirements of paragraph (1); and

(b) the local authority has complied with its duties in connection with the off-site emergency plan as set out in regulation 11, and has confirmed this to the operator in writing.

(5) The operator must, when preparing the emergency plan, or reviewing it under regulation 12(1), consult—

(a) the operator’s employees;

(b) any persons carrying out work on behalf of the operator and who the operator considers might be affected by a radiation emergency;

(c) the lead local authority;

(d) the health authority in whose area the premises to which the emergency plan relates is situated;

(e) Public Health England;

(f) in addition to Public Health England, if the premises to which the emergency plan relates is in—

(i) Wales, Public Health Wales, and

(ii) Scotland, Health Protection Scotland;

(g) the Category 1 responders in whose area in which the premises to which the emergency plan relates is situated; and

(h) such other persons, bodies or authorities as the operator considers appropriate.

(6) The operator must ensure that any employee on site is or has been provided with such suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training as they require in relation to a radiation emergency.

(7) The operator must ensure that any emergency worker who may be involved with or may be affected by arrangements in the operator’s emergency plan is or has been provided with—

(a) suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training;

(b) any equipment necessary to perform the functions allocated to them by the operator’s emergency plan; and

(c) any equipment necessary to restrict their exposure to ionising radiation including, where appropriate, the issue of suitable dosemeters or other devices.

(8) In the case of a person who is not employed by the operator, the information, instruction, training and equipment required by regulation (7) relates only to specialised equipment to be used on the operator’s premises in accordance with the operator’s emergency plan, and which is information, instruction, training or equipment the operator does not expect the person to have received or have available already.

(9) An operator which has prepared an emergency plan in accordance with this regulation must—

(a) review that plan as a consequence of any review required by regulation 6; and

(b) update the plan, if necessary, as a consequence of a review undertaken in accordance with sub-paragraph (a).

(10) The operator must retain the emergency plan on the premises to which it relates, and must provide details of that plan to the local authority and the regulator upon request and within such reasonable time as the local authority or the regulator may request.