The Air Navigation Order 2016

Protection of air crew from cosmic radiation

178.—(1) An undertaking operating an aircraft must—

(a) take account of exposure to cosmic radiation of air crew who are liable to be subject to exposure to more than 1 mSv per year; and

(b) take appropriate measures, in particular to—

(i) assess the exposure of the crew concerned;

(ii) take into account the assessed exposure when organising working schedules with a view to reducing the doses of highly exposed air crew; and

(iii) to inform the workers concerned of the health risks their work involves.

(2) In relation to female air crew employed by an undertaking—

(a) as soon as a pregnant woman informs the undertaking in writing of her condition, the undertaking must ensure that—

(i) the conditions of exposure to cosmic radiation for the pregnant woman in the context of her employment are such that the equivalent dose to the child to be born will be as low as reasonably achievable; and

(ii) it will be unlikely that this dose will exceed 1 mSv during the remainder of the pregnancy;

(b) as soon as a nursing woman informs the undertaking in writing of her condition she must not be employed in work involving a significant risk of bodily radioactive contamination.

(3) In this article—

“air crew” has the same meaning as in article 42 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom(1);

“highly exposed” has the same meaning as in article 42 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom;

“mSv” means one thousandth of a Sievert, as defined in article 1 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom;

“undertaking”, as regards the operation of aircraft, has the meaning given in articles 1 and 2 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom.

(1)

Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13th May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. O.J. No. L 159, 29.6.96, p.1.