Dealing with radioactive substances and ionising radiation
The handling of radioactive substances and ionising radiation is regulated in the Radiation Protection Act. A distinction is made between activities that require approval, must be notified, and activities that do not require approval and notification.
The Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation is responsible for, among other things:
- Processing of approval procedures according to the Radiation Protection Act
- Receiving and reviewing notifications of personnel changes (radiation protection officer and officer)
- the granting of the release
- the certificate of expertise in the non-medical field and for medical physics – experts, and
- for the approval of radiation protection courses.
For the granting of a licence under the Radiation Protection Act, applicants must provide proof that the licensing requirements are met. In detail, these are:
- Reliability of the applicant
- A sufficient number of reliable and competent radiation protection officers with defined decision-making areas
- Sufficient knowledge of employees about radiation hazards and protective measures
- Facilities and measures to ensure compliance with radiation protection regulations in accordance with the state of the art in science and technology
- Provision for possible statutory claims for damages
- Protection against terrorist attacks, theft and sabotage
- Overriding public interests do not stand in the way of the project with regard to keeping the air, water and soil clean.
For this purpose, documents must be submitted in accordance with Annex 2 of the Radiation Protection Act.
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Approval procedure
When dealing with radioactive substances and ionising radiation, a distinction is made between activities that require a licence, must be notified and those that do not require a licence and notification. The activities requiring a licence include the construction of installations for the generation of ionising radiation, the operation of installations for the generation of ionising radiation, the handling of other radioactive substances, the operation of an X-ray facility or an interference radiator, employment in third-party installations or facilities and the transport of radioactive materials.
For the granting of a licence under the Radiation Protection Act, applicants must provide proof that the licensing requirements are met. In detail, these are:
- Reliability of the applicant
- a sufficient number of reliable and competent radiation protection officers with defined decision-making areas
- Sufficient knowledge of employees about radiation hazards and protective measures
- Facilities and measures to ensure compliance with radiation protection regulations in accordance with the state of the art in science and technology
- Provision for possible statutory claims for damages
- Protection against terrorist attacks, theft and sabotage
- overriding public interests do not stand in the way of the project with regard to keeping the air, water and soil clean.
For this purpose, documents must be submitted in accordance with Annex 2 of the Radiation Protection Act.
The decision on the application is subject to a fee.
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Advertisements for the operational organisation of radiation protection
The person responsible for radiation protection is anyone who requires a permit in accordance with the StrlSchG. If the person responsible for radiation protection is a legal person or a partnership with legal capacity, the duties of the person responsible for radiation protection are performed by the person authorised to represent them by law, articles of association or articles of association. According to § 69 StrlSchG, there is an obligation to inform the authority which person performs the duties of the radiation protection officer.
Furthermore, according to § 70 StrlSchG, the radiation protection officer must immediately notify the competent authority in writing of the appointment of a radiation protection officer, stating the specified tasks and powers. This notification must be accompanied by a certificate of the required specialist knowledge in radiation protection.
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Release of radioactive materials
Upon application, the holder of a licence pursuant to § 12 (1) sentence 1 no. 3 StrlSchG or § 12 (1) sentence 1 no. 1 StrlSchG may be granted the release, i.e. the release from radiation protection law, for
- Solids and liquids (waste)
- objects, rooms, floor surfaces, buildings,
- Construction rubble and excavated soil
if only an effective dose of 10 microsieverts per calendar year can occur for individuals in the population. The decision on the application is subject to a fee.
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Certificate of the required expertise and knowledge in radiation protection
The necessary specialist knowledge in radiation protection is mandatory for persons who are to be appointed as radiation protection officers for the respective field of application (e.g. handling of radioactive substances, operation of facilities for the generation of ionising radiation, operation of X-ray equipment in the field of technology and research, or in connection with use on humans and in veterinary medicine).
The prerequisites for acquiring the necessary specialist knowledge in radiation protection (§ 47 StrlSchV) are:
- suitable vocational training (proof by certificates of vocational qualification)
- sufficient practical experience, which depends on the time of the vocational training and the desired specialist knowledge (proof by a certificate of competence issued by a person with the appropriate specialist knowledge in radiation protection) and
- Successful participation in the corresponding radiation protection course, which must be recognised by the competent authority (proof by the certificate of participation).
Required knowledge of radiation protection is required by persons who technically carry out a human or veterinary application of radioactive substances or ionising radiation under the constant supervision and responsibility of a doctor or dentist or veterinarian with the specialist knowledge in radiation protection required for the respective application.
Prerequisites for acquiring the necessary knowledge in radiation protection (§ 49 StrlSchV) are:
- suitable vocational training (proof by certificate of vocational qualification) and
- Successful participation in the corresponding radiation protection course, which must be recognised by the competent authority (proof by the certificate of participation).
Successful participation in the course does not mean that you have any specialist knowledge/knowledge in radiation protection, because attending the course is only a prerequisite for acquiring the specialist knowledge. The acquisition of the specialist knowledge/knowledge is checked and certified by the TLUBN. Participation in the course must not have been more than five years ago.
The TLUBN grants the "Expertise in Radiation Protection" / "Knowledge in Radiation Protection" upon application. The certificate is subject to a fee.