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Radiation Health Series

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The Radiation Health Series was formerly published by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The Radiation Health Committee is progressively reviewing the Series and republishing as part the Radiation Protection Series.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has advised that it does not intend to review the Radiation Health Series publications and has handed responsibility for review to ARPANSA. The Radiation Health Committee is progressively reviewing Series, and republishing as part of ARPANSA's Radiation Protection Series.

Printed versions of Radiation Health Series publications that have not superseded are available free of charge from the appropriate State or Territory radiation control authority whilst stocks last. Electronic versions are available for download below.

RHS No. 1

Recommended radiation protection standards for individuals exposed to ionising radiation (1980)

[Superseded by Radiation Health Series No.39 and later by Radiation Protection Series No. 1]

RHS No. 2

Code of practice for the design of laboratories using radioactive substances for medical purposes (1980).

This code has been withdrawn as the material is covered by Australian Standard AS/NZS 2982.1:1997.



RHS No. 3

RHS No. 3

Code of practice for the safe use of ionizing radiation in veterinary radiology: Parts 1 and 2 (1982)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.17]

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It may take some time before all jurisdictions have transitioned to the new code. If in doubt licence holders should confirm with their local regulator which code currently applies to a licence.

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RHS No. 4

Code of practice for the safe use of radiation gauges (1982)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.13]

RHS No. 5

Recommendations relating to the discharge of patients undergoing treatment with radioactive substances (1983)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.4]

RHS No. 6

Code of practice on the safe use of lasers in secondary schools (1983)

[Superseded by Radiation Health Series No.36]

RHS No. 7

Guidelines for the safe use of lasers in the entertainment industry (1983)

[Superseded by Radiation Health Series No.37]


RHS No. 8

Code of nursing practice for staff exposed to ionizing radiation (1984)

This publication has been withdrawn. Relevant information for nursing staff can now be found in:

and associated Safety Guides:


RHS No. 9

RHS No. 9

Code of practice for protection against ionizing radiation emitted from X-ray analysis equipment (1984)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 10

RHS No. 10

Code of practice for safe use of ionizing radiation in veterinary radiology: part 3 - radiotherapy (1984)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.17]

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It may take some time before all jurisdictions have transitioned to the new code. If in doubt licence holders should confirm with their local regulator which code currently applies to a licence.

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RHS No. 11

Code of practice for the safe use of soil density and moisture gauges containing radioactive sources (1984)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.5]

RHS No. 12

Administration of ionizing radiation to human subjects in medical research (1984)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No. 8]


RHS No. 13

RHS No. 13

Code of practice for the disposal of radioactive wastes by the user (1985)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 14

Recommendations for minimising radiological hazards to patients (1985)

This publication has been withdrawn. The optimisation provisions of RHS 14 have been superseded by:

and associated Safety Guides:

as well as ongoing work in the development of Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs).

The advice to referrers provisions of RHS 14 are being replaced by work undertaken in the Quality Use of Diagnostic Imaging (QUDI) Program of the RANZCR and will be published on web site Inside Radiology.


RHS No. 15

RHS No. 15

Code of practice for the safe use of microwave diathermy units (1985)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 16

RHS No. 16

Code of practice for the safe use of short wave (radiofrequency) diathermy units (1985)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 17

Procedure for testing microwave leakage from microwave ovens (1985) has been withdrawn as procedures for testing of microwave ovens are specified in Australia/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 60335.2.25:2002. The Radiation Health Committee retains the role of setting the allowable limit for microwave leakage from microwave ovens (50 W/m2 at 0.05m).


RHS No. 18

Code of practice for the safe handling of corpses containing radioactive materials (1986) has been withdrawn. This Code has been replaced by information in RPS 14, Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation, and relevant Safety Guides RPS 14.2 Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine and RPS 14.3 Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy. In addition, in June 2010 the Radiation Health Committee published the statement Safe Handling of Deceased Persons Recently Treated with Radioactive Material. The statement provides information to persons who, in the course of their work, may be required to deal with deceased persons who had recently undergone procedures involving radioactive material.


RHS No. 19

Code of practice for the safe use of ionizing radiation in secondary schools (1986)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No. 18]

RHS No. 20

Code of practice for radiation protection in dentistry (1987)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No. 10]


RHS No. 21

RHS No. 21

Revised statement on cabinet X-ray equipment for examination of letters, packages, baggage, freight and other articles for security, quality control and other purposes (1987)

[currently under review]

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RHS No. 22

RHS No. 22

Statement on enclosed X-ray equipment for special applications (1987)

[currently under review]

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RHS No. 23

Code of practice for the control and safe handling of radioactive sources used for therapeutic purposes (1988)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No. 14 and Radiation Protection Series No. 14.3]


RHS No. 24

RHS No. 24

Code of practice for the design and safe operation of non-medical irradiation facilities (1988)

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RHS No. 25

RHS No. 25

Recommendations for ionization chamber smoke detectors for commercial and industrial fire protection systems (1988)

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RHS No. 26

Policy on stable iodine prophylaxis following nuclear reactor accidents (1989)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.7]

RHS No. 27

Australia's radiation protection standards (1989)

[Superseded by Radiation Health Series No.39 and later by Radiation Protection Series No. 1]


RHS No. 28

RHS No. 28

Code of practice for the safe use of sealed radioactive sources in borehole logging (1989)

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RHS No. 29

Occupational standard for exposure to ultraviolet radiation (1989)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No. 12]


RHS No. 30

RHS No. 30

Interim guidelines on limits of exposure to 50/60 Hz electric and magnetic fields (1989)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 31

RHS No. 31

Code of practice for the safe use of industrial radiography equipment (1989)

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RHS No. 32

Intervention in emergency situations involving radiation exposure (1990)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No.7]

RHS No. 33

Interim statement on Australia's radiation protection standards (1991)

[Superseded by Radiation Health Series No.39 and later by Radiation Protection Series No. 1]


RHS No. 34

RHS No. 34

Safety guidelines for magnetic resonance diagnostic facilities (1991)

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RHS No. 35

Code of practice for the near-surface disposal of radioactive waste in Australia (1992)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 36

RHS No. 36

Code of practice for the safe use of lasers in schools (1995)

[Currently under review]

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RHS No. 37

Code of practice for the safe use of lasers in the entertainment industry (1995)

This publication was withdrawn on the recommendation of the Radiation Health Committee at its meeting of 16-17 July 2008. The material covered in this Code has been superseded by the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2211.3:2002 : Safety of laser products - Guidance for laser displays and shows. The Standard provides guidance on the planning and design, set-up and conduct of laser displays and shows that use high power lasers. The Standard is identical with and has been reproduced from IEC 60825-3:1995.


RHS No. 38

RHS No. 38

Recommended limits on radioactive contamination on surfaces in laboratories (1995)

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RHS No. 39

Recommendations for limiting exposure to ionizing radiation (1995), and National standard for limiting occupational exposure to ionizing radiation (1995)

[Superseded by Radiation Protection Series No. 1]

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