The UK Code of Practice on Clearance and Exemption

Legislative Background: • Radioactive Substances Act and more than 20 specific exemption orders; • Developed over time; • Radiological protection basis not consistent – e.g. 0.4 Bq / g (sum of all radionuclides); • Complex and not well understood by frontline practitioners - open to interpretation; • As a consequences practices and standards varied. The Challenge: • Update the Guidance in line with current legislation; • Range of business and operational backgrounds; • Long established practices and culture needed to be changed; • Regulatory and Stakeholder "buy in" essential; • Credibility and corporate reputations at risk. The Process: • Representatives from across UK industry – recognised experts; • Many meetings and long discussions, debates, arguments… •All too difficult – easy to get bogged down in the specifics; • A painful development process; • The challenge was to do the right thing!