Industrial radiography unit

Overview

Industrial radiography units are typically used in the oil and gas, construction, and mining industries to inspect plant and equipment for structural defects. They contain either a sealed radiation source or an X-ray source. They include fixed and portable units operated either remotely or as a hand-held unit.

A radiation management licence is a mandatory requirement for any company seeking to possess an industrial radiography unit. Multiple units can be authorised on a single management licence and a separate authorisation on the licence is required for each unit. In addition to authorising possession of the industrial radiography unit, the radiation management licence may also authorise other practices such as disposal or storage.

Applicants seeking a management licence for a practice involving industrial radiography unit must meet certain prerequisites prior to the licence being issued.

Prerequisites: what information do I include with my application?

The following documentation must be included with your application (electronic files can be attached with your application).

1. Establishment of identity and authorisation

A radiation Management Licence can only be issued to a legal entity. In most cases the legal entity will be a registered company or a person.

If you are applying for a management licence under a company name you must provide:

• A current Company Extract issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The extract must display the ACN number and the name of the director(s) of the company. A registration of a business or ABN is not accepted as evidence of a legal entity.
• If you are not a director of the company, then you must provide a Letter of Authority signed by a director of the company. The director must be listed on the ASIC company extract. A template for the Letter of Authority can be found at sample Letter of Authorisation page. The Letter of Authority will authorise you to do the following on behalf of the company:
  • Apply for a new management licence.
  • Apply to vary an existing management licence.
  • Submit a notification of acquisition and/or disposal.
  • Discuss matters relating to the radiation management licence with the department.

Ifyou are applying for a management licence under a person’s name:

• Proof of Identity (Driver’s licence or passport showing current physical address) of the person applying to be the licence holder.
• If you are applying on behalf of another person, then you must provide a Letter of Authority from that person. A template for the Letter of Authority can be found at sample Letter of Authorisation page. The letter must be signed by the person that is proposed to be the licence holder. The Letter of Authority will authorise you to do the following on behalf of the proposed licence holder:
  • Apply for a new management licence.
  • Apply to vary an existing management licence
  • Submit a notification of acquisition and/or disposal.
  • discuss matters relating to the radiation management licence with the department

2. A Radiation Management Plan

From 6 September 2021 a Radiation Management Plan (RMP) must be submitted when applying for the following:

• A new radiation Management Licence
• A variation to an existing radiation Management Licence
• A transfer of an existing radiation Management Licence to another legal entity

Please read the Radiation Management Plan page for details on the minimum requirements for RMPs.

In addition to the minimum RMP requirements, you need to include the following information in your RMP:

1. The name of the dosimetry service provider (DSP) that you will use.
2. The centre number assigned to you by the DSP.
3. The procedures in place that ensure compliance with Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2014) where applicable.
4. Reference to your approved radiation source security plan and transport security plan where applicable.

3. Shielding assessment - Fully or partially enclosed exposure bays only

If you are applying for a licence involving the use of industrial radiography units inside fully or partially enclosed exposure bays you must submit a shielding assessment report with your application. A shielding assessment determines the minimum amount of shielding that is required in the walls, doors, floor and ceiling of the enclosure in which the radiation source is used to ensure that no person receives a radiation dose in excess of the relevant radiation protection limits specified in the Radiation Regulations 2017. The assessment report must include the following:

• Floor plan showing the enclosure in which the radiation source will be installed and the surrounding areas.
• Occupancy factors and purpose of surrounding areas.
• Methodology/references used in the assessment.
• Shielding required for the operator
• Radiation apparatus workloads used in the assessment
• The location of any related equipment e.g. controls, protective screens, warning lights.

4. Source security plan and transport security plan

Most sealed source industrial radiography apparatus contain a high consequence sealed source. Specific security requirements apply to these sources whilst they are in use, storage and transport. An approved source security plan must be submitted with your application. Please refer to the security of high consequence sealed sources page for further information on these requirements.

Conditions of licence

General and practice specific conditions of licence are mandatory requirements that apply to radiation management licence holders. It is important as a management licence holder that you understand and comply with all the conditions of licence that apply to your licence. Failure to comply with a condition of licence is an indictable offence under the Radiation Act 2005

General Conditions of licence

Two general conditions apply to all radiation management licence. The general conditions relate to the reporting of incidents and the acquisition and disposal of radiation sources. Further information on the general conditions can be found at Disposal of radioactive material and X-ray equipment page.

Practice specific conditions of licence relating to cabinet X-ray units

Compliance with the NHMRC Code of practice for the safe use of industrial radiography equipment (1989) is a practice specific condition that applies to all radiation management licences authorising industrial radiography practices.

Compliance with the Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2014) is a practice specific condition that applies to all radiation management licences authorising the transport of industrial radiography units.

Compliance with both the Security Standards for security plans and transport security plans and Additional matters to be addressed in security and transport security plans is a practice specific condition that applies to all radiation management licences authorising industrial radiography units that incorporate high consequence sealed sources.

Licence durations, licence fees, assessment process and timeframes

See the General information about management licences in Victoria page.

Is a use licence required for industrial radiography units?

Any individual wishing to use an industrial radiography unit must hold a valid use licence.

The use of a radiation source without the required use licence is an offence under the Radiation Act 2005.

To apply for a use licence please visit the use licence section.

Apply for a management licence or apply to vary an existing licence

All of the department's forms for applications are on-line forms. The form is completed online and automatically emailed to the department upon submission. Please remember to check what mandatory documents must be included with your application.

Complete the online form: Application for a new management licence

Complete the online form: Application to vary a management licence