Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Sweden (Ratification: 1961)

1. Further to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Article 6 of the Convention. Maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiation. The Committee notes that the Government does not respond to the Committee’s previous request for information and concerns with respect to the maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiation for work with ionizing radiation. It reiterates its concern that section 5 of Regulations SSI FS 1998:4 prescribes an annual dose limit of 50 mSv, while the 1990 ICRP recommendations recommend an average effective dose limit of 20 mSv per year. The Committee reiterates its invitation to the Government to bring the annual dose limits for radiation workers prescribed in section 5 of the SSI 1998:4 fully in line with the recommendations of the ICRP, in order to ensure the effective protection of workers exposed to ionizing radiation in the course of their work.

3. Article 13. Scope of emergency work. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that notification in accordance with Article 13(b) is required when "something unexpected happens" and that this is to be interpreted that notification is also needed when no doses did affect the employees but could have done so under poorer conditions.

4. Article 14. Alternative employment or other measures offered for maintaining income where continued assignment to work involving exposure is medically inadvisable. The Committee notes that the Government does not respond to the Committee’s previous request for information and concerns with regard to the provision of suitable alternative employment for workers who are, for health reasons, required to discontinue radiation work, or to enable them to maintain their income otherwise through social security measures. The Committee reiterates its previous request to the Government to provide detailed information on which measures have been taken in this respect.