National Nuclear Regulator Act, 1999 (Act No. 47 of 1999)

Regulations

Regulations in Terms of Section 36, Read with Section 47 of the National Nuclear Regulator Act, 1999 (Act No. 47 of 1999), on Safety Standards and Regulatory Practices

Section 6 : Accidents, incidents and emergencies

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The provisions of this section are applicable to emergency exposure situations requiring protective action to reduce or avert temporary exposures.

 

6.1Criteria for the definition of a nuclear accident

 

Any occurrence or succession of occurrences having the same origin and resulting in an unintended/authorised exposure to radiation or release of radioactive material, which is capable of giving rise to an effective dose in excess of 1 mSv to the public off-site in a year, or in excess of 50 mSv to a worker on site received essentially at the time of the event, is regarded as a nuclear accident as defined in section 1(xiii) of the Act.

 

6.2Criteria for the definition of a nuclear incident

 

Any unintended event which is reasonably capable of giving rise to an effective dose equal to or in excess of 0,l mSv to the public off site received essentially at the time of the event, or the unintended spread of radioactive contamination or exposure to radiation, which could reasonably give rise to an effective dose in excess of 20 mSv to a worker on site received essentially at the time of the event, or significant failure of safety provisions, is regarded as a nuclear incident as defined in section 1(xvii) of the Act.

 

6.3Information to be supplied

 

The holder of a nuclear authorisation must immediately inform the Regulator when a nuclear accident occurs or an incident has arisen or is expected to occur or arise, as the case may be, and shall provide such information as may be required, including—

6.3.1the current situation and its evolution;
6.3.2measures taken to terminate the nuclear accident and/or incident to protect workers and members of the public; and
6.3.3the exposures that have occurred and those expected to be incurred.

 

6.4Emergency or remedial measures

 

Emergency or remedial measures must be considered in the vicinity of a nuclear accident where the potential exists that any member of the public may receive more than an annual effective dose of 1 mSv resulting from the accident.