Guiding principles

The EPA seeks to promote the following principles in the development and implementation of the new regulatory framework:

Protecting people and the environment: the Radiation Protection Principle is the principle that people, and the environment should be protected from unnecessary exposure to radiation through the processes of justification, limitation, and optimisation. Justification requires that that the benefits of a practice involving ionising radiation outweigh the detriment. Limitation involves maximum dose limits are not exceeded. Optimisation means ensuring that protection measures are implemented to reduce radiation exposure or risk of exposure, without unduly compromising access to beneficial uses and in proportion to the level of risk.

Risk-based and proportionate: this requires robust risk analysis to determine the need for regulation and to design a proportionate regulatory response where it is needed. The achievement of zero radiation dose is neither an appropriate or feasible goal of regulatory intervention.

Graded approach: elements such as the level of analysis, the depth of documentation and the scope of actions necessary to comply with requirements are commensurate with the relative risks to health, safety, security, and the environment, and the characteristics of a facility or activity.

National and international best practice: ensure that South Australia meets best practice standards for radiation protection and regulation. This includes seeking nationally consistent regulatory outcomes as reflected in the National Strategy for Radiation Safety and the National Directory for Radiation Protection (the National Directory).

Outcome focused: avoid unnecessarily prescriptive requirements. Where possible, regulation should be principles-based and where it is prescriptive, there should be clear justification, eg high risk in the event of control failure.

Transparent and consistent: this applies to making and implementing regulation and is essential for ensuring confidence in the legislative process. It includes safeguarding opportunities to participate in the formulation of regulation.

Effective and efficient: avoiding unnecessary requirements, and duplication of requirements under different laws. Minimising the administrative burden, while enabling the EPA to step in when needed to prevent harm and sanction poor behaviour.

Simple and accessible: regulations should be easily understood and readily accessible. Good regulation should allow everybody to easily find and understand their obligations.

Accountable: responsibility for radiation safety rests with those undertaking activities that give rise to the exposure. The EPA does not through its regulatory role relieve holders of authorisations or their employers of their primary responsibility for radiation safety.