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Classified Persons using ionising radiation
Any worker who is likely to receive an effective dose of greater than 6mSv per year or an equivalent dose greater than 3/10ths of any relevant dose limit must be designated as a Classified Person.
On this page
- What is a classified person?
- How do I become a classified person?
- What you need to know as a classified person
- Frequently asked questions
What is a classified person?
In the context of ionising radiation, a classified person is a legally defined term under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. Under these regulations, persons over 18 must be designated as classified if the work they are doing with ionising radiations is likely to result in doses that exceed 3/10th of the relevant annual dose limits. When deciding if a person should be classified, reasonably foreseeable accidents (e.g. spills and contamination) are also considered.
Unless you have been told otherwise by the Radiation Protection Team, you have been classified because of the doses that you could receive to your skin, arms or hands as a result of spills or contamination.
As a classified person, UCL (your employer) is required to:
- Inform you that you are classified.
- Assess and record your radiation dose. For this purpose, UCL has arrangements with an Approved Dosimetry Service (ADS).
- Ensure you are certified fit to work with ionising radiation by an appointed doctor or employment medical adviser (medical surveillance).
The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 also place health and safety responsibilities on you as an employee, but there are also specific requirements for classified persons too, they include:
- Following instructions on how to wear Personal Protective Equipment and take care of it.
- Attending medical surveillance appointments and providing the doctor with relevant medical information.
- Co-operating when it comes to dose measurements and assessments.
- Informing UCL of actual or suspected radiation incidents.
How do I become a classified person?
Identification in radiation risk assessment
The radiation risk assessment for the work will state clearly whether you need be designated as a classified persons and the reasons why. Your local Radiation Protection Supervisor will tell you if you need to be classified and inform your line manager.
Medical surveillance
Before being classified you must undergo a medical examination by a specialist doctor from UCL Workplace Health. The purpose of medical surveillance is to check you are fit for the work you will be carrying out. It is not just limited to radiation exposure. Other elements connected to the work (e.g. if you have to wear PPE to restrict exposure) will also be considered as part of the medical surveillance. You will have an examination annually for the period you are classified.
- Your line manager will request medical surveillance and Workplace Health will contact you with an appointment.
- Following the appointment you will be sent a letter confirming whether you are fit for work with ionising radiation, and any restrictions there are on the work you can do. A copy is sent to your line manager and the Head of Radiation Safety.
Formal Application
Once you have received the letter, you will be sent a classified worker form to complete, which should be returned to the local Radiation Protection Supervisor.
Designation as a classified person
The Head of Radiation Safety will write to inform you of the date from which you become a classified person.
What you need to know as a classified person
Keeping and using your personal dosimetry
It is one of your legal duties as an employee to wear your dosimetry as instructed and to take care of it.
- Whilst working with ionising radiation you must correctly wear personal dosimetry at all times.
- You must take care of any issued dosimetry, this includes:
- Not getting it wet, exposing it to heat or direct sunlight.
- Not exposing it to radiation whilst you’re not working (e.g. taking it through an airport X-ray scanner, a medical x-ray).
When not being worn, dosimetry should be kept onsite at UCL. Your local Radiation Protection Supervisor will advise the dedicated location for storing dosimetry.
- If you lose or damage your personal dosimetry, you must inform your local Radiation Protection Supervisor and you should not work with ionising radiation until you have been issued with a replacement.
- Your dosimetry badge should be exchanged monthly. Please return the used badge to your local Radiation Protection Supervisor at the end of each month.
- If you believe your dosimetry has been accidentally exposed to ionising radiation (e.g. going through an airport X-ray scanner), you must tell your local Radiation Protection Supervisor as soon as possible.
Medical surveillance
Workplace Health carries out routine medical surveillance of people working with ionising radiation and other hazardous substances. The annual medical surveillance may take the form of:
You must complete the questionnaire or attend the appointment. If you do not complete annual medical surveillance, your radiation worker status will be removed and you will not be able to work. If the time between medical surveillance exceeds 13 months, you must attend an in-person appointment.
Following the medical surveillance appointment or completion of the questionnaire, you will receive a letter confirming your fitness for work with ionising radiation, including any specific limitations. This letter is also sent to your line manager and the Head of Radiation Safety.
Working with ionising radiation at another organisation whilst employed by UCL
If you are planning to work with ionising radiation at another organisation while employed by UCL you must email radreporting@ucl.ac.uk at least three months in advance. This is because if you are a classified person working with radiation at another organisation then you will be a ‘classified outside worker’.
Classified outside workers will be issued a radiation passbook to record dose information and other key information. There are specific requirements for keeping radiation passbooks up-to-date and who can make records in them. Further information will be provided by the Radiation Protection Team when you are issued with a radiation passbook.
Your dose records and data protection
In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK Data Protection Act 2018, UCL must make you aware that UCL's Approved Dosimetry Service (ADS) will keep information about you for at least 30 years and until you are 75. This is a legal requirement under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. The ADS will also provide this information to the Health and Safety Executive.
- As a classified person, information will be held on the Health and Safety Executive's Centre Index of Dose information.
- UCL Workplace Health is required to keep ‘medical surveillance’ records. See the Workplace Health Privacy Notice for further information.
Frequently asked questions
General
- Can I choose whether to be a classified person?
Persons will only be classified if they need to be for their work. If a person does not wish to be classified then they will be unable to undertake the particular work with ionising radiation.
- Can I see my dosimetry results?
You have the right to access a copy of your dose summary, as required by law. To request it, contact your local Radiation Protection Supervisor or email radreporting@ucl.ac.uk. Your dose summary will include your annual ionising radiation exposure records and any personal details necessary for accurate reporting.
- As a classified person, what personal information is shared with the Approved Dosimetry Service and the Health and Safety Executive?
The Central Index of Dose Infomation is a national database of radiation doses received by UK classified radiation workers. It includes personal details and annual dose summaries of ionising radiation dose records for classified workers. These records include:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- National Insurance Number
- Full dose history
- Gender
- Details of your occupation
- Dates of commencement and termination at a classified worker
- Employer's address and the address of the ADS
- When do I stop being a classified person?
In most cases, you will stop being classified if your employment with UCL ends. When this happens, you will be issued a termination record. If you continue to work with ionising radiation at your new employer, they will decide whether you need to be classified.
You may also stop being a classified person if:
- A doctor certifies that you should not be working with ionising radiation as a classified person.
- UCL employs you in a new post that no longer involves work where you will be exposed to ionising radiation.
Previous and future employment
- What is a "termination record"?
A termination record is issued by the ADS on request from UCL as the employer. Copies of the record are shared with UCL and the Health and Safety Executive. It contains relevant dose information and a dose summary so that the next employer has the right information to ensure you do not exceed cumulative dose limits.
- What should I do if I have a "termination record" from my previous employer?
You need to email your termination record to radreporting@ucl.ac.uk so that UCL can ensure your cumulative dose remains within dose limits.
- Do I need medical surveillance if I was previously classified in my previous employment?
If your previous employer conducted medical surveillance within the past year for work involving ionising radiation that is very similar to your new role at UCL, you may not need additional surveillance for that year.
Dosimetry
- How do I wear my whole body dosimetry?
Radiation workers who are issued whole body badges should wear them on their collar, mid-torso or waist with the label facing out. The intent is to wear the badge in the area most likely to receive exposure.
- How do I wear my ring dosimeter?
The ring badge should be worn on a finger with the label (white plate) facing the radiation source, i.e. towards the palm of the hand where the highest exposure occurs.
- Protect the ring badge from contamination by wearing it inside a glove.
- Check the badge as part of your routine survey for personal contamination.
- Ring badges are available in three sizes – if your badge doesn’t fit, let your local Radiation Protection Supervisor know immediately.
Last updated: Monday, December 16, 2024
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