Radiation Protection

Radiation Protections is Divided into Two Key Elements:

Ionising Radiation (IR): Radiation that produces ionisation in matter, examples include cosmic radiation, alpha particles, gamma rays and X-rays. When these radiations pass through the tissues of the body they have sufficient energy to damage DNA.

Non-Ionising Radiation(NIR): Radiation that does not have sufficient energy to produce ionisation in matter, examples include lasers, ultraviolet light, radiant heat, radiowaves and microwaves. It may be defined as electromagnetic radiation with insufficient energy to produce ion pairs in biological matter. The health hazards of NIR are very wave length dependant.

The use of ionising and non-ionising radiations in the University is controlled by a number of Acts and Official Regulations. The Health and Safety Service has a Radiation Protection team which ensures that any work with radiation is carried out legally and safely.

This team comprises:

  • Radiation Protection Advisor
  • Radiation Protection Officer
  • Departmental Radiation Protection Supervisors

This team is available to help all staff and students with justifications, risk assessments, practical radiation management, radiological health and safety and radioactive waste management.

The University Radiological Protection Sub-Committee reports to council annually and is responsible for drafting local rules and monitoring health aspects and control of radioactive materials within the University.