Incident Reporting
Reporting of all incidents is encouraged. Even minor incidents can provide useful information for the identification of faults and the prevention of future incidents. All incidents are anonymised and reported to the Australian Radiation Incident Register. This allows for reporting on national trends and the identification of opportunities for improvement in the safe use of radiation.
In the event of an incident, contact your Radiation Safety Officer in the first instance.
Incident report forms have been developed to facilitate the reporting of specified incidents to the Radiological Council. Separate forms are available for radioactive substances [⭳ Word Document] and irradiating apparatus and electronic products [⭳ Word Document].
Incidents involving radiation which are required to be reported to the Radiological Council are specified under regulation 19A of the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations in addition to those required under the conditions, restrictions and limitations attached to a registration.
All incidents specified must be reported in writing to the Radiological Council as detailed below.
Council must be notified immediately where there has been a loss or theft of a source of radiation.
A person who is the registrant or licensee in possession or control of, any radioactive substance, irradiating apparatus or electronic product shall report any loss or theft to the Council immediately after learning of the loss or theft.
Incidents considered as abnormal or unplanned radiation exposures
- Medical radiation incidents as specified in the conditions attached to a registration, including any procedure other than as prescribed, inadvertent exposures, observable radiation injuries and near-miss situations
- An unintended emission of radiation as a result of damage to, or the malfunction of, radiation producing apparatus or devices containing radioactive substances (or controlling their use)
- Contamination by a radioactive substance resulting from the spillage of more than 10 times the exempt quantity specified in Schedule V
- A release to the environment of a radioactive substance in excess of the limits specified in Schedule VIII
- Any other incidents that warrant reporting or that are specified in the conditions attached to a registration
Actions that need to be taken following an exposure incident
Medical radiation incidents are required to be reported as soon as practicable and within 30 days from the date of the incident. For all other incidents, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of an incident, the registrant must –
- ascertain the cause of the exposure
- if the cause of the exposure was damage to or malfunction of radiation producing equipment or devices, immediately take action to ensure there is no ongoing exposure risk
- inform any person who may have been exposed of the occurrence of the exposure
- Notify the Radiological Council in writing of the exposure
Schedule 15 of the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983 describes actions registrants and licensees must take in regards to the release of excessive concentrations of radioactive substances.
Concentration of radioactive substances greater than those outlined in Schedule VIII but less than 10 times this concentration
- immediately investigate the circumstances of the release and take corrective actions
- report to the Radiological Council on the investigation and corrective actions taken within 14 days of taking the corrective actions
Concentration of radioactive substances 10 times greater than those outlined in Schedule VIII but less than 1000 times this concentration
- immediately investigate the circumstances of the release and take corrective actions
- report to the Radiological Council within 7 days of the discovery of the radioactive substances released
Concentration of radioactive substances exceeding 1000 times greater than those outlined in Schedule VIII
- immediately report the incident to the Radiological Council and ascertain the cause of the possible release and take corrective action as directed by the Council
Regulation 15 of the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983 describes actions registrants and licensees must take in regards to radiation doses received. In all scenarios the individual/s who receive an excessive dose shall be immediately informed upon discovery. For prescribed monitoring periods (refer to the radiation monitoring section of the common requirements for registrations) differing from 1 month, multiply the 1 month values below in accordance with the monitoring period.
Effective dose in 1 month between 0.5 - 1.65 mSv
- investigate the circumstances of the excessive dose and place a report within their personal file
- if the person receiving the dose is/was not a radiation worker, immediately forward a report on the circumstances to the Radiological Council
Effective dose in 1 month between 1.65 - 8.3 mSv
- investigate the circumstances of the excessive dose and report this to the Radiological Council within 7 days of becoming aware of the excessive dose
Effective dose in 1 month greater than 8.3 mSv
- immediately report the excessive dose to the Radiological Council and circumstances of the radiation exposure and take corrective action as directed by the Council