19 Regulations
The following are some of the regulations that apply to the UK, and other readers should check the local regulations for their own country. Only an outline of the main contents have been given, as the main texts are readily available on the internet | |
Human Rights Act 1988 | Areas of note |
• Article 2 Right to life
• Article 5 Right to liberty and security
• Article 8 Right to respect for private and family life
• Article 9 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• Article 10 Freedom of expression
• Article 14 Prohibition of discrimination
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Data Protection Act 1998 | Eight basic principles: Personal information must be: |
1. Processed fairly and legally
2. Obtained for limited purposes only
3. Adequate, relevant and not excessive
4. Accurate
5. Not kept longer than is necessary
6. Processed according to an individual’s rights in the Act
7. Kept secure
8. Not transferred abroad without adequate protection
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Freedom of Information Act 2000 | Gives the power to individuals to: |
• Ask a public organisation for information on specific subjects
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Covers all NHS organisations who have to: | |
• Have a publication scheme for releasing information
• Tell applicants whether or not they hold information not covered under the publication scheme
• Disclose information to applicants, providing it is not exempt under the Act
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Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 | The Act outlines the general duties that: |
• Employers have towards employees and members of the public
• Employees have to themselves and to other employees
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The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 | Requires employers to: |
• Carry out a risk assessment
• Make arrangements for implementing the measures identified by the risk assessment
• Appoint competent people to help to implement the arrangements
• Set up emergency procedures
• Provide information and training
• Work with other employers sharing the same workplace
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Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 | These regulations cover employees who use display screen equipment daily and for continuous spells of 1 hour or more at a time The key duties of employers are: |
• To identify areas where display screen equipment is used
• To identify which staff use the equipment and for how long
• To assess the risks to users (if any) and reduce the risks where appropriate
• To ensure that any new work stations meet the health and safety requirements
• To make sure that staff have adequate breaks and changes of activity
• To provide users with eye and eyesight tests, if appropriate
• To ensure that any users receive adequate training and information concerning safe working practices
• The Medicines (Administration of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1978
• The Radioactive Substances Act 1993
• The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999
• The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Great Britain) Regulations 2002
• The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000
• Notes for the Guidance on the Clinical Administration of Radiopharmaceuticals and Use of Sealed Radioactive Sources 2006
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The Medicines (Administration of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1978 The Medicines (Administration of Radioactive Substances) Amendment Regulations 1995 |
Main areas |
• Prior authorisation to provide protection for the patients during the clinical use of radioactive substances
• Prior authorisation to provide protection for the volunteers during research in the use of radioactive substances
• Indirectly, the protection of staff when using radioactive substances
• Criteria for the issue and renewal of a certificate to administer radioactive substances
• Only a doctor or dentist holding a certificate issued by the Health Minister or people working under the direction of the doctor or dentist can administer radioactive substances
• The amendment regulations make some administrative changes to the regulations
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The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 | Covers |
• Registration of use of radioactive material and mobile radioactive apparatus
• Disposal of radioactive waste
• Duty to display documents
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The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 | Main areas General principles and procedures |
• Authorisation of specific practices
• Notification of specified work
• Prior risk assessments
• Restriction of exposure
• Personal protective equipment
• Maintenance and examination of engineering controls and personal protective equipment
• Dose limitation
• Contingency plans
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Arrangements for the management of radiation protection |