Radiation safety on mining operations is co-regulated with the Radiological Council.
The Radiological Council and the department may need to consider and approve a project if:
The regulation of radiation safety in Western Australian mines is based on national standards, and is addressed under Part 16 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.
Part 16 of the regulations covers:
Responsibility for the Radiation Safety Act 1975 lies with the Radiological Council, the independent statutory authority appointed under section 13 of the Act. The Council advises and is responsible to the Minister for Health.
Daily administration of the Radiation Safety Act 1975 is handled by the Department of Health’s Radiation Health Branch.
When there is the potential to encounter radioactive minerals, the initial requirements are to:
Following the department’s guidelines for naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) allows a consistent approach to the regulation of radioactive minerals at Western Australian mining operations.
The format of the NORM guidelines is shown.
You can search for the NORM guidelines in the publications and resources area and download them as a PDF.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) develops codes and safety guides that are adopted by States and Territories into their own regulations.
One of the main codes relating to the mining industry is the Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing (RPS 9). This code establishes requirements for radiation protection in mining and mineral processing industries, and for the protection of human health and the environment from the effects of radioactive waste from mining and mineral processing.
Publications in ARPANSA’s Radiation Protection Series and the National Directory for Radiation Protection are available for download or purchase from ARPANSA, including:
The transport of radioactive materials must comply with the Radiation Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2002. These regulations follow ARPANSA’s Code of Practice for Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (RPS 2).
The principal transport regulations in Western Australia relating to radioactive materials are Radiation Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2002.
More information is available in the information sheet on Transporting uranium oxide in WA - your questions answered
The Radiation Safety Act 1975 and accompanying regulations specify maximum exposure limits for non-ionising emissions from radiofrequency radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and electromagnetic fields from power lines and electronic equipment.
Non-ionising radiation hazards at mining operations should be treated like any other hazard on site, with a suitable risk assessment and controls.
The Radiation Health Branch of the Health Department can provide advice on exposure limits for non-ionising radiation.
