There are 3 categories of work with ionising radiation that may require you to apply for a registration from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
- work with radiation generators
- work with artificial radionuclides or naturally occurring radionuclides which are processed for their radioactive, fissile or fertile properties
- work with naturally occurring radionuclides which are not processed for their radioactive, fissile or fertile properties
Work with radiation generators
A radiation generator is a device capable of generating ionising radiation such as X-rays, neutrons, electrons or other charged particles.
This includes the following work:
- X-ray devices used by dentists, vets, chiropractors and NHS trusts
- X-ray devices used by
- an airport to scan baggage
- a post room in an office building to scan incoming packages
- a port or dock to scan incoming or outgoing cargo
- a handheld X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) device used to determine the metallurgic content of metal
- using X-rays in a cabinet that cannot be entered to examine products
You will need to apply for a registration to work with a radiation generator unless you use it for work that requires consent such as the operation of an accelerator, industrial radiography, or industrial irradiation.
Work with artificial radionuclides or naturally occurring radionuclides which are processed for their radioactive, fissile or fertile properties
Examples of this includes work:
- in a school or university that uses radioactive material as a teaching source
- with a sealed source that is not a high activity sealed source
- with nuclear density gauges
- transporting or storing radioactive substances, unless explicitly included within a work practice that needs consent
For the examples above and in the vast majority of cases you will need to apply for a registration for this work. Notification will only apply where there are very small quantities of radioactive material, for example, in a museum that holds articles containing radium. If you think you may need to notify instead, you can check using our work with radionuclides.
Work with naturally occurring radionuclides (not processed for their radioactive, fissile or fertile properties)
An example of this is working with zircon sand in a foundry.
In the vast majority of cases, you will usually need to apply for a registration for this work with HSE, but you can check using our guide on work with radionuclides.
Where registration does not apply
If registration does not apply to the work you do, you may need to:
- notify HSE if you carry out work in an atmosphere containing radon above an annual average concentration of 300 Bq m-3
- apply to HSE for consent to carry out any of the 8 specified higher-risk work practices