The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

Information to the public about health protection measures

2.—(1) Every consignor, carrier and consignee carrying out the transport of a consignment shall—

(a) ensure that any members of the public who are in an area in which, in the opinion of the Northern Ireland competent authority, they are likely to be affected by a radiological emergency arising from the undertaking of that carrier, consignor or consignee are supplied, in the appropriate manner approved by the Northern Ireland competent authority and without their having to request it, with at least the information set out in sub-paragraph (2); and

(b) make that information publicly available, which includes endeavouring to enter into an agreement or arrangement with the district council in the area referred to in head (a) for the dissemination by that authority of the information required to be supplied to members of the public in accordance with that sub-paragraph.

(2) The following is the information that is to be supplied and made available—

(a) the basic facts about the radioactivity and its effects on persons and on the environment;

(b) the various types of radiological emergency possible and their consequences for the general public and the environment;

(c) the emergency measures envisaged to alert, protect and assist the general public in the event of the occurrence of a radiological emergency;

(d) appropriate information on action to be taken by the general public in the event of the occurrence of a radiological emergency; and

(e) the appropriate district council responsible for implementing the emergency measures and action referred to in (c) and (d) above.

(3) In preparing the information to be supplied and made available, the carrier, consignor or consignee shall—

(a) consult the Northern Ireland competent authority, but remain responsible for the accuracy, completeness and form of the information supplied; and

(b) endeavour to enter into an agreement or arrangement with the local authority in whose area the carrier, consignor or consignee is situated with respect to the dissemination by that authority of the information to members of the public.

(4) The information supplied and made available under this paragraph shall be updated—

(a) at regular intervals;

(b) whenever significant changes to any of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) take place; and

(c) in any event, at least every 3 years.

(5) When information is updated in accordance with sub-paragraph (4) it shall be supplied and made publicly available in accordance with sub-paragraph (2).