Ionising Radiations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Defence on contravention

36.—(1) In any proceedings against an employer for an offence under regulation 6(2), it shall be a defence for that employer to prove that—

(a) he neither knew nor had reasonable cause to believe that he had carried out or might be required to carry out work subject to notification under that regulation; and

(b) in a case where he discovered that he had carried out or was carrying out work subject to notification under that regulation, he had forthwith notified the Executive of the information required by that regulation.

(2) In any proceedings against an employer for an offence under regulation 7, it shall be a defence for that employer to prove that—

(a) he neither knew nor had reasonable cause to believe that he had commenced a new activity involving work with ionising radiation; and

(b) in a case where he had discovered that he had commenced a new activity involving work with ionising radiation, he had as soon as practicable made an assessment as required by the said regulation 7.

(3) In any proceedings against an employer for an offence under regulation 27(2) it shall be a defence for that employer to prove that—

(a) he had received and reasonably relied on a written undertaking from the supplier of the article concerned that it complied with the requirements of that regulation; and

(b) he had complied with the requirements of regulation 27(3).

(4) In any proceedings against an employer of an outside worker for a breach of a duty under these Regulations it shall be a defence for that employer to show that—

(a) he had entered into a contract in writing with the employer who had designated an area as a controlled area and in which the outside worker was working or was to work for that employer to perform that duty on his behalf; and

(b) the breach of duty was a result of the failure of the employer referred to in sub-paragraph (a) to fulfil that contract.

(5) In any proceedings against any employer who has designated a controlled area in which any outside worker is working or is to work, for a breach of a duty under these Regulations it shall be a defence for that employer to show that—

(a) he had entered into a contract in writing with the employer of an outside worker for that employer to perform that duty on his behalf; and

(b) the breach of duty was a result of the failure of the employer referred to in sub-paragraph (a) to fulfil that contract.

(6) The person charged shall not, without leave of the court be entitled to rely on the defence referred to in paragraph (4) or (5) unless, within a period ending 7 clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing that he intends to rely on the defence and this notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the contract on which he intends to rely and, if that contract is not in English, an accurate translation of that contract into English.