ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

The following guides have been developed to assist both applicants and licence holders achieve compliance with the ARPANS Act and Regulations.

This Page:

• Accident Reporting
• Applying for a licence
• Disposal of controlled apparatus and controlled material
• Frequency of Calibration of Radiation Monitoring Instruments
• How to determine whether a Class 1M or Class 2M laser product is a controlled apparatus
• How to determine whether a RF source is a controlled apparatus
• How to determine whether a UV source is a controlled apparatus
• How to read a facility licence (PRF)
• How to read a source licence
• How to seek an exemption from a source licence (IR)
• How to seek prior approval to dispose of controlled sources
• Managing changes to the source inventory
• Plans and Arrangements for Managing Safety
• Regulatory Assessment Principles for Controlled Facilities
• Regulatory Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Facilities
• Reporting Compliance
• Source Inventory Workbook
• Surrender of a Facility Licence and Release from Regulatory Control
• Transport of Radioactive Material - Approval Checklists
• Use of Sealed Sources Beyond Their Recommended Working Life
• What to expect during an ARPANSA Inspection

Accident Reporting

If an accident happens, the licence holder must take all reasonably practicable steps to control the accident and to minimise the consequences, including injury to any person and impact on the environment. The licence holder must tell the CEO about the accident within 24 hours and provide a written report about the accident within 14 days. Go to the 'Accident Reporting' web page.

Applying for a licence

The following guides have been developed to assist Commonwealth entities or Commonwealth Contractors who wish to apply for a licence.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Applying for Source Licence:
PDF 80 kb | RTF 554 kb  (updated June 2011)

REGULATORY GUIDE: Applying for a facility licence for a Prescribed Radiation Facility:
PDF 140kb | RFT 553 kb  (updated July 2011)

REGULATORY GUIDE: Applying for a facility licence for a Nuclear Installation:
PDF 122kb

Disposal of controlled apparatus and controlled material

This guidance document provides licence holders information on how to apply for approval and dispose of controlled apparatus or controlled material.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Disposal of controlled apparatus and controlled material (PDF 32kb)
(updated July 2010)

Frequency of Calibration of Radiation Monitoring Instruments

This guidance document provides clarification to licence holders on what is expected in terms of the frequency of calibration of radiation detection instrumentation.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Frequency of Calibration of Radiation Monitoring Instruments (PDF 27kb) (updated July 2010)

How to determine whether a Class 1M or Class 2M laser product is a controlled apparatus

This Guidance is provided to assist owners of Class 1M and Class 2M laser products determine whether a source licence is required.

REGULATORY GUIDE: How to determine if a Class 1M or Class 2M laser product is a controlled apparatus (PDF 60kb)

How to determine whether a RF source is a controlled apparatus

This document has been developed to assist controlled persons determine whether a UV source falls within the definition of a controlled apparatus under the ARPANS regulations. It is valid for both pulsed and continuous sources of ultraviolet radiation where the exposure duration is not less than 0.1 ms. It does not apply to ultraviolet lasers.

REGULATORY GUIDE: How to determine whether a RF source is a controlled aparatus:
PDF 341kb | RTF 1,148kb   (updated February 2012)

This document has been developed to assist controlled persons determine whether a RF source falls within the definition of a controlled apparatus under the ARPANS regulations. In particular, it clarifies conditions and defines terms used in Regulation 4.

How to determine whether a UV source is a controlled apparatus

This document has been developed to assist controlled persons determine whether a UV source falls within the definition of a controlled apparatus under the ARPANS regulations. It is valid for both pulsed and continuous sources of ultraviolet radiation where the exposure duration is not less than 0.1 ms. It does not apply to ultraviolet lasers.

REGULATORY GUIDE: How to determine whether a UV source is a controlled aparatus:
PDF 125kb | RTF 880kb  (updated February 2012)

This document should be used as an aid in interpreting the Regulations. It is valid for both pulsed and continuous sources of ultraviolet radiation where the exposure duration is not less than 0.1 ms. It does not apply to ultraviolet lasers.

Guidelines for determining whether a UV source is controlled apparatus under the ARPANS Legislation (PDF 204kb) (updated July 2010)

How to read a facility licence (PRF)

This guide explains the different parts of a facility licence (for a prescribed radiation facility) and how to interpret them.

REGULATORY GUIDE: How to read a Facility Licence (PDF 132kb) (updated July 2010)

How to read a source licence

This guide explains the different parts of a source licence and how to interpret them.

REGULATORY GUIDE: How to read a Source Licence (PDF 131kb) (updated July 2010)

How to seek an exemption from a source licence (IR)

Section 31 of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999 (the Act) prohibits dealings with controlled material or controlled apparatus unless the dealing is authorised by a source licence, or is prescribed by the regulations as an exempt dealing. Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the regulations describes the dealings that are exempt.

REGULATORY GUIDE: How to seek an exemption from a source licence - Ionising Radiation (PDF 113kb)

How to seek prior approval to dispose of controlled sources

Under subregulation 53(1), a licence holder must have prior approval from the CEO of ARPANSA to dispose of any controlled apparatus or controlled material. Disposal for the purpose of regulation 53(1) is regarded as (i) destruction of controlled apparatus, or (ii) where regulatory control of controlled apparatus or controlled material passes from the Commonwealth to another jurisdiction. For further information on disposal please refer to the regulatory guide.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Disposal of controlled apparatus and controlled material v1 Aug 2007 (PDF 37kb)

Managing changes to the source inventory

It is a condition of licence that licence holders maintain an up-to-date source inventory. The source inventory is maintained in the form of a Source Inventory Workbook (SIW) that forms part of the licence application.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Managing changes to the Source Inventory (PDF 73kb)

Plans and Arrangements for Managing Safety

This regulatory guideline sets out the information requirements that should be satisfactorily demonstrated in an applicant’s or a licence holder’s plans and arrangements. The primary users of this guideline are the CEO of ARPANSA and regulatory staff. The document may also assist applicants in the preparation of licence applications and licence holders in the review of their current plans and arrangements.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Plans and Arrangements for Managing Safety:
PDF 440kb | RTF 866kb (updated October 2011)

Regulatory Assessment Principles for Controlled Facilities

This document describes the assessment principles to be applied by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) when assessing an application for a facility licence as well as approvals under licence for changes to facilities already the subject of a facility licence.

Regulatory Assessment Principles for Controlled Facilities (PDF 274kb)

Regulatory Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Facilities

Regulatory Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Facilities:Near Surface Disposal Facilities; and Storage Facilities

Regulatory Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Facilities (PDF 585kb)

This Guidance is intended to be used in relation to applications made under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 for a facility licence to prepare a site for, to construct, or to operate radioactive

• a radioactive waste disposal facility (near surface)
• a radioactive waste store.

The Regulatory Guidance is intended to assist applicants in preparing the information that should be provided in any such application. The Guidance addresses siting, construction and operation. It would be expected that more detailed information would be supplied as a proposed facility was developed through the licensing stages.

The Regulatory Guidance is directed at radioactive waste management facilities that involve an inventory of radionuclides that would qualify as nuclear installations under section 13 of the ARPANS Act. Aspects of the Guidance may be applicable to smaller radioactive waste management facilities that would be defined as prescribed radiation facilities under the Act.

Reporting Compliance

Regulatory Guidance: Reporting Compliance v5 August 2009 (PDF 235kb)

The purpose of this document is assist licence holders in identifying the types of information which should be included in quarterly reports to the CEO of ARPANSA as part of ensuring compliance with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANS) Legislation.

Source Inventory Book

The Source Inventory Workbook (SIW) is the form approved by the CEO for licence applicants/holders to record details of all controlled material and controlled apparatus to be dealt with under an ARPANSA licence. An explanation of terms and required information is provided on the first worksheet.

Source Inventory Workbook (EXCEL 236kb)

Surrender of a Facility Lience and Release from Regulatory Control

This document provides guidance to assist the determination of whether the CEO should accept the surrender of a facility licence following decommissioning, and release the facility from regulatory control. A licence holder seeking approval to surrender a facility licence should ensure the principles included in this guide are covered in their submission.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Surrender of a Facility Licence and Release from Regulatory Control
PDF 65kb | RTF 475kb - (added September 2011)

Transport of Radioactive Material - Approval Checklists

This document will assist companies or organisations seeking approval to transport radioactive material within Australia.

REGULATORY GUIDE: Transport of Radioactive Material - Approval Checklists
PDF 198kb  |  RTF 1,270kb - (December 2011)

Use of Sealed Sources Beyond Their Recommended Working Life

REGULATORY GUIDE: Use of Sealed Sources Beyond Their Recommended Working Life
PDF 49kb | RTF 516kb - (added November 2011)

What to Expect during an ARPANSA Inspection

REGULATORY GUIDE: What to expect during an ARPANSA Inspection
PDF 61kb | RTF 549kb - (updated December 2011)

 

The CEO invites feedback on the usefulness of any of ARPANSA's regulatory documents. Comments may be made via email to licenceadmin@arpansa.gov.au or mail to:

Head, Operations Services
ARPANSA
PO Box 655
MIRANDA NSW 1490

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