www.walsall.org.uk/healthandsafety Radiation Safety Management Standard Section 1 Mobile phones Section 2 Ultraviolet radiation Section 3 Laser equipment Section 4 Visible light Issue 2 October 2008 Page 1 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
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Standards This SMS provides the minimum legal standards that service areas and schools must keep to. It gives guidance but does not limit service areas in how they achieve the standard. 1. You will ensure that the risks from non-ionising radiation, ultraviolet radiation, laser equipment and visible light are considered as part of the job or activity risk assessment 2. You must publish your own local arrangements reacting to radiation. Section 1 Non-ionising radiation mobile phones Non-ionising radiation describes two parts of the electromagnetic spectrum - optical radiation such as ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared light, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) such as power frequencies, microwaves and radiofrequencies. 3. You must make sure that exposure to non-ionising radiation from mobile phones is kept as low as reasonably possible. 4. You will ensure that the risks from non-ionising radiation are considered as part of the job or activity risk assessment. 5. You will issue mobile phones with a low specific energy absorption rate (SAR) if using landlines is not practical. 6. Staff must use mobile phones for as short a time as possible. 7. You will provide hands-free kits and other devices that have been proved to reduce SAR where mobile phones must be used often or for long periods (or both). 8. Encourage staff to keep mobile phones away from their body when in standby mode. 9. Any base stations on our buildings must be isolated to prevent access to any unauthorised people. 10. Drivers must switch off their mobile phone whenever the engine is running, unless there is a valid reason and a specific procedure for leaving the mobile phone on. However, at no time must drivers use their mobile phones when the engine is running. Relevant national legislation Health and Safety at Work Act The Road Traffic Act Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Section 2 Non-ionising radiation ultraviolet radiation (UVR) Non-ionising radiation describes two parts of the electromagnetic spectrum - optical radiation such as ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared light, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) such as power frequencies, microwaves and radiofrequencies. 11. You should reduce as far as possible exposure to the sun when working outdoors, particularly between 10am and 2pm. 12. You should reduce as far as possible overexposure to UVR from welding operations. Page 3 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
13. You should encourage employees working outdoors to: wear suitable head wear whenever possible; cover their skin with clothing that gives good protection (for example, long-sleeved shirts and loose clothing with a close weave); and wear sunglasses these should block out UVA and UVB rays and be a wraparound design. Relevant national legislation Health and Safety at Work Act Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Section 3 Non-ionising radiation lasers Non-ionising radiation describes two parts of the electromagnetic spectrum - optical radiation such as ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared light, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) such as power frequencies, microwaves and radiofrequencies. 14. Prevent deliberate repeated exposure to laser light, such as laser pointers (and projectors). 15. Laser equipment must meet the industry safety standards. 16. Dismantling any class 1 products (including laser printers, CD players and DVD players) must be carried out only by a competent person (for example, the supplier). 17. Make sure that contractors use laser equipment safely. The equipment must meet the requirements of the relevant standard and guidance. 18. Make sure that contractors have adequately assessed the safety of any laser show. 19. You must make sure that exposure to laser light is kept as low as reasonably possible. Relevant national legislation Health and Safety at Work Act The Road Traffic Act Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Section 4 Visible Light This section outlines the corporate standards for exposure to high emission light sources. 20. You should ensure that persons using high emission light source devices, such as projection equipment, photocopiers etc. o are able to avoid starting directly into the beam o can position themselves so that they can face away from the beam as much as possible. o In the case of projectors, can look at their audience without the beam being in their sight line. (This can be achieved by ceiling-mounting the projector rather than positioning the device on the floor or table) and; o Use laser pointers or sticks to avoid the need to enter the beam 21. You will need to produce risk assessments and make sure that all staff are made aware of significant risks that have been identified and the controls that are in place. Relevant national legislation Page 4 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
Health and Safety at Work Act Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Page 5 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
Appendix 1: Training grid Employees First and Second Line Managers General Service Managers and Head Teachers Executive Directors and Assistant Directors Safety induction CIEH Level 3 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace (Supervising) IOSH Managing Safely Note: The stars in the boxes show what training is needed. Safety representatives may go on all training courses. Page 6 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
Appendix 2: Non-ionising radiation safety management: system audit form Directorate: Site Representative: Location: Date: Question 1 Topic included in your service health and safety plan. 2 Local management system and arrangements in place. 3 Management team competent, briefed and involved. 4 Evidence that risk assessments are available, suitable and adequate. 5 Evidence of risk assessment action planning. 6 Evidence of suitable information instruction and training. 7 Evidence of measuring performance. 8 Evidence of systems to comply with all the standards from this SMS. Calculation Overall assessment Priority actions: 0 1 2 3 4 Comment Date for review: Auditor s name Signature Date Site representative s name Signature Date Scrutiny by SHAW Manager Signature Date Page 7 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
Appendix 2: Summary of standards (for full description see section 1) Summary of Standards for audit purposes only Standards 1 A radiation protection supervisor (RPS) is appointed Compliance or X or N/A ---------------- 2 An approval letter from the DfES is on file and agrees with the number of sources kept 3 The local rules are up to date and have been agreed with the RPA through the RPO 4 A check has been made that the total activity of the radioactive substances kept are within the limits allowed by the regulations 5 Appropriate monitoring equipment is working and available 6 Source containers are labelled with the radioactive trefoil picture and a radioactive material warning sign 7 The room for storing sources is close to the area where the sources will be used 8. Sources are not in the same room as material that can burn easily 9. A radioactive source history for each source (including the results of regular inspections and leak tests) is available 10. The use log is filled in whenever sources are used and is available 11. The monitoring record is filled in each year 12. The RPS has provided appropriate instruction and training 13. The RPS regularly checks to make sure that sources have been returned to the store room Page 8 of 8/WMBC/SMS Radiation/0804/02 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED