A separate licence is required to keep or possess each irradiating apparatus. Agents who import irradiating apparatus or radioactive materials for sale or re-export, shall give CRPNS an accounting at the end of each month, stating the irradiating apparatus or radioactive materials they have imported, exported, sold locally (including the name of the buyer) and those remaining in their possession.

The exemption limits for licensing of radioactive materials are taken from the IBSS. They are given in terms of activity and activity concentration for each radionuclide.

To ensure that the irradiating apparatus and radioactive materials are used in a safe manner, only individuals with the necessary qualifications and knowledge in radiation safety for the work intended under the licence or can prove that they have special knowledge of the safe use or application of the radiation sources, may be granted licences to use them. For example, licences to use irradiating apparatus for medical diagnostic purposes may be granted only to qualified diagnostic radiologists. For industrial purposes, the licence applicant will have to show documentary proof that he is knowledgeable on radiation safety or take a test set by CRPNS. The licensee is allowed to use only the irradiating apparatus or radioactive material specified in his licence.

CRPNS may cancel or suspend any licence if the licensee infringes the Act or Regulations.

If the dose report indicates that the worker has received a dose in excess of the dose limit, his employer shall send him for a medical examination including a full blood examination and he shall be suspended from radiation work for an appropriate period of time. Investigations shall be made by the licensee and CRPNS to ascertain the cause of the excessive dose and measures taken to ensure that the accident or incident does not happen again.

The occupational dose limit for women who are not pregnant is the same as that for men, but once pregnancy is declared, the equivalent dose limit to the surface of the woman's abdomen shall be 2 mSv for the remainder of the pregnancy.

All the above dose limits do not include the dose from any medical or dental exposure as a patient or from the exposure to natural background.

When the radiation hazard ceases to exist, all the labels and notices shall be removed.

If the radioactive material is missing and is not accounted for within 24 hours, the licensee shall notify CRPNS.

If it is found to be leaking, CRPNS shall be immediately informed and the source shall be removed and stored in a proper manner. It shall not be brought back into use until all necessary repairs have been effected. The areas affected by the leakage shall be decontaminated under the supervision of CRPNS.

For radiation work in a field site, a boundary shall be set up and clearly defined by ropes, fences, walls of buildings etc., and the radiation hazard logo and warning notices incorporating the words 'DANGER - RADIATION', such that the radiation level outside the boundary shall not exceed 25 µSv/hr. There shall be continuous and competent supervision of the site whenever a sealed source is exposed or an irradiating apparatus is energised within the site. A survey meter shall be readily available and used at the field site to check the radiation level boundary requirement and to check that the radiation source has returned to the OFF condition immediately on completion of each exposure.

Any radiation area monitor, survey meter or direct reading personal dosimeter used for any purpose in connection with the Regulations, shall be calibrated once in every 12 months.

There shall be a red light placed at a conspicuous place outside the x-ray room, which shall be switched on whenever the x-ray machine is being used to deter the entry of any individual not connected with the x-ray examination.

Lead gloves, lead aprons and lead screens shall be available for the protection of staff and patient. The field size shall be limited to the area of interest and, unless inappropriate for the technique employed, fast films and intensifying screens shall be used so that the irradiation of the patient is not more than is necessary to produce a satisfactory diagnostic result.

If a weak patient or child has to be supported during the x-ray examination, or a dental film has to be held for a patient, mechanical devices shall be used as far as is practicable, otherwise the individual rendering such assistance shall be provided with protective clothing and shall be positioned so as to avoid the primary beam. This individual shall not be a radiation worker, a pregnant woman or a person below the age of 18 years.

Similarly, an animal shall not be held by any individual unless other means of immobilisation are impracticable. If manual restraint is necessary, the animal shall be held down by a minimum number of individuals who are not staff of the veterinary establishment, not pregnant and not below the age of 18 years. If it is necessary for the animal to be held by members of the veterinary establishment, only those who have been registered as radiation workers and have been trained for such purposes shall be so employed and they shall be provided with protective clothing and be positioned so as to avoid the primary beam.

Protective clothing like lead aprons shall be examined visually frequently and examined radiographically at least annually to ensure that the protection afforded has not been impaired as a result of cracks in the material.

Hospitalised patients undergoing treatment with any sealed or unsealed source shall be accommodated in dedicated rooms with a warning notice on the door. If the radiation level at one metre from the patient exceeds 20 µSv/hr, the radiation hazard logo and a notice containing any necessary nursing precautions, shall be attached to the bed.

Admittance to the room shall be strictly controlled and the patient shall not leave the room without the approval of the radiologist in charge of the treatment.

Any temporary implant of a sealed source, including a nuclear battery used to power a cardiac pacemaker, shall be removed from a corpse before such corpse is disposed of.

No post mortem examination, cremation or embalming process shall be carried out on a corpse known to contain a sealed or unsealed source without approval from CRPNS or the Medical Director of the hospital responsible for the implanting of the sealed source.

All work surfaces shall be made of non-porous and non-reactive material such as stainless steel. A fume cupboard shall be provided to perform operations likely to produce radioactive contamination of the air through the production of aerosols, smoke or vapours.

All radioisotope laboratories or workrooms shall be adequately ventilated and shall be provided with washing facilities suitable for decontamination purposes.

The dos and don'ts of working in a radioisotope laboratory are stated in the Regulations. Contaminated items for disposal shall be put in special plastic bags and this radioactive waste shall be put in a radioactive storage room and allowed to decay before being disposed off.

In non-medical application, a radiation accident is considered to have occurred if an unplanned, uncontrolled high level of radiation occurs, as in the case of loss, by damage of the radiation shielding of a sealed radioactive source or of irradiating apparatus; or an individual enters a high radiation field by accident; or if there is a spillage or leakage of unsealed radioactive material causing contamination; or if radioactive material is accidentally released into the environment in excess of the permitted discharge level.

In medical application, a radiation accident is considered to have occurred if any therapeutic treatment is delivered to the wrong patient or to the wrong tissue of any patient; or if the patient is treated with a dose or dose fractionation which differs by more than 10% from the value prescribed by the radiologist in charge of the treatment; or if the wrong radiopharmaceutical is used. A radiation accident is also considered to have occurred if any diagnostic exposure given is 50% greater than the intended dose or if the patient receives a dose significantly different from that which was intended.

If an accident should occur, the actions to be taken by the licensees or safety officers are spelt out. The licensee has to notify the appropriate authorities and in all cases, the licensee shall notify CRPNS and give a preliminary oral report of the accident within 24 hours, which is to be confirmed in writing within 48 hours and a full written report of the accident within 10 days.