New Zealand Legislation: Regulations

21 Controlled areas

• (1) If a licensee is of the opinion that, by reason of the presence in any place of a radioactive material, or an irradiating apparatus, for which he is responsible, a hazard to any person arises from—

  • (a) Radiation received from a source outside the body of that person; or

  • (b) The possibility of that person ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise absorbing into his body any radioactive substance,—

  and that it is necessary, for the purposes of regulation 18 of these regulations, that the area in which the hazard exists (being an area in the occupation or otherwise under the control of the licensee or his employer) should become a controlled area, he shall designate that area as a controlled area.

  (2) Where any area is designated as a controlled area, the licensee, and any other person who uses any radioactive material or any irradiating apparatus in that area knowing that the area is so designated, shall—

  • (a) Ensure that the area is indicated by warning signs in accordance with clause 5 of Schedule 2 to these regulations; and

  • (b) Take all reasonable steps to prevent access to the area by any unauthorised person.

  (3) Except as provided in section 24 of the Act, no person shall, without the permission of the licensee or a Radiation Safety Officer, enter a controlled area.

  (4) Every licensee or Radiation Safety Officer who permits a person to enter a controlled area shall ensure that that person is fully instructed in respect of the precautions that he must observe while he is within that area, and is provided with sufficient protective equipment for the purposes of regulation 18 of these regulations.

  (5) Subject to subclause (6) of this regulation, when the circumstances that required an area to be designated as a controlled area cease to exist, the licensee shall arrange for the carrying out of such decontamination as may be necessary, and shall cause any warning sign erected in compliance with subclause (2)(a) of this regulation to be removed.

  (6) Subclause (5) of this regulation shall not apply where it is expected by the licensee that the circumstances that required the area to be designated as a controlled area will soon recur.

  (7) A controlled area shall continue to be a controlled area until all warning signs have been removed therefrom pursuant to subclause (5) of this regulation.

  (8) Every licensee manufacturing or using in a controlled area any radioactive material that is not a sealed radioactive material shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that—

  • (a) Sufficient protective clothing is provided for, and (when necessary for the purposes of regulation 18 of these regulations) worn by all persons working in the controlled area, and that the clothing is removed when such persons leave that area; and

  • (b) Levels of contamination by radioactive substances are maintained as low as is reasonably possible, and in any case low enough to avoid any contravention of regulation 18 of these regulations.