Key messages
- Read and understand the conditions of your licence.
- Read and understand the requirements in the relevant codes of practice. Compliance with the code is a condition of licence.
- Ensure no person receives higher radiation dose than what is prescribed in the Radiation Regulations 2017.
- Renew your licence before it expires.
Understand the conditions of your licence
Once you have sent a use licence you should take the time to carefully read and understand the conditions of licence. Section 15 of the Radiation Act 2005 (the Act) makes it an offence for a use licence holder to knowingly, recklessly or negligently fail to comply with any condition of their licence.
Your licence authorises you to use specific types of radiation sources for a specific purpose - if the licence does not authorise you to use a particular radiation source then you are not permitted to use that radiation source.
Carefully read and understand the relevant codes of practice
Your licence may refer to a requirement to comply with a specific code/s. You need to carefully read and understand these codes as they contain quite detailed requirements. Compliance with the relevant code/s is a condition of licence and you must be familiar with the code's requirements.
Where there are no applicable codes of practice, use licence holders must meet the safety requirements in the Mandatory radiation safety requirements for use licence holders (Use Licence Condition) published by the department
Radiation doses
You have responsibilities to ensure that no person receives a higher radiation dose than is prescribed the Radiation Regulations 2017.
Renew your licence before it expires
The Act permits you to apply to renew your licence within 60 days from the expiry date. You are not permitted to use the radiation source during this period and the department may take enforcement action against you. You are unable to renew a use licence after this 60 day period and you will have to re-apply for a use licence.
Inspections
You may be contacted by an Authorised Officer of the department to advise you that s/he will be conducting an inspection. You may be given an opportunity to nominate a convenient time and to understand the purpose of the inspection. Sometimes the inspection will be unannounced but this is less common.
Occasionally the department may request information from you. This information may be in the form of self-audits. You will be contacted by an authorised officer about a self-audit.
Variation to an existing use licence
You may wish to change your use licence to vary the scope including:
- the types of radiation sources you can use
- the way in which you wish to use the radiation sources.
You must apply to the department for a variation to the existing use . The licence must be varied by the department before the proposed changes to the radiation practice take effect. There are no fees associated with applying for a variation to an existing licence.
If you have any questions about your licence please contact us.
Reviewed 03 February 2020