HC Deb 08 April 1998 vol 310 cc351-2W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulations cover clean-up and decontamination operations involving the removal by high-pressure water hoses of radioactively-contaminated bird droppings from buildings not located on licensed nuclear facilities. [37836]

Mr. Battle

Protection of workers and the public from any work involving ionising radiation is covered by the provisions of the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985 and is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive. The disposal of any radioactive materials, whether from licensed nuclear sites or elsewhere, is subject to the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. In addition, the disposal of any radioactivity, liquids or material resulting from such work is regulated by the Environment Agency.

A number of bodies, including the Environmental Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of Health and the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), are closely involved in the work to remove the contaminated bird droppings from the house in Seascale and to ensure that it is undertaken in compliance with all the relevant health, safety and environmental regulations, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974.

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