The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Regulations 2002

Interpretation of expressions used in this Part

66.  In this Part—

• “assist in the intervention” means the taking of such steps, as it is reasonable and practicable in the prevailing circumstances to take, in order to prevent or decrease exposure; the circumstances include, in particular—

  (a)

  the weather conditions;

  (b)

  the time of the occurrence of the emergency;

  (c)

  the distribution of the local population;

  (d)

  the nature and content of the package involved;

  (e)

  the stability of the radioactive material involved;

  (f)

  the nature of the local geography and ecology;

  (g)

  any other prevailing hazards; and

  (h)

  the relative importance of the emergency in relation to other calls that are being made upon the emergency services;

• “emergency arrangements” means the documented plan drawn up by the consignor pursuant to regulation 68 (duties of consignor and carrier with regard to the preparation of emergency arrangements) for the purpose of providing for intervention in cases where a radiological emergency occurs during the course of transport of a consignment and which sets out the steps to be taken by those concerned with that transport to make an immediate provisional assessment of the circumstances and consequences of the emergency and to assist with intervention; and which contains provision, where the situation so requires, for intervention relating to—

  (a)

  the source (so as to reduce or stop the direct radiation and emission of radionuclides);

  (b)

  the environment (so as to reduce the transfer of radioactive material to individuals); and

  (c)

  individuals (so as to reduce their exposure or to organise the treatment of victims);

• “exposure” means the process of being exposed to ionising radiation;

• “initiate the emergency arrangements” means the taking of such steps, as it is reasonable and practicable to take, in order to put into effect the actions that have been planned for in the emergency arrangements;

• “intervention” means any human activity taken to prevent or decrease the exposure of individuals to ionising radiation from a consignment involved in a radiological emergency by acting either upon that consignment or upon the transmission pathway giving rise to that exposure or upon the individuals so exposed;

• “notifiable event” means any event where—

  (a)

  radioactive material is lost, escapes or is unlawfully removed from the vehicle carrying the material;

  (b)

  any package carried in or on a vehicle is opened or otherwise damaged (whether or not the package is still in or on the vehicle);

  (c)

  the vehicle carrying the radioactive material overturns (including being turned on its side) or suffers serious damage or is involved in a fire; or

  (d)

  a radiological emergency occurs; and

• “radiological emergency” means a situation arising during the course of the transport of a consignment that requires urgent action in order to protect workers, members of the public or the population (either partially or as a whole) from exposure.