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
• Determining whether a UV source is a controlled apparatus under the ARPANS Regulations
• How to determine if a Class 1M or Class 2M laser product is a controlled apparatus
• 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
• Regulatory Assessment Principles for Controlled Facilities
• Regulatory Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Facilities
• Reporting Compliance
• Review of Plans and Arrangements
• Source Inventory Workbook
• Use of Sealed Sources Beyond Their Recommended Working Life

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 a Source Licence (PDF 111kb)

REGULATORY GUIDE: Applying for a facility licence for a Prescribed Radiation Facility (PDF 125kb)

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

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.

Guidelines for determining whether a UV source is controlled apparatus under the ARPANS Legislation (PDF 199kb)

Regulatory Guidance on how to determine if a Class 1M or Class 2M laser product is a controlled apparatus

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

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

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)

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 waste management facilities, being:

• 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

The purpose of this guidance 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. Get the 'Guidance for Licence Holder Quarterly Reporting' and 'Quarterly Reporting Proforma'.

Regulatory Guideline on Review of Plans and Arrangements

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 Guideline on Review of Plans and Arrangements (PDF 484kb)

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)

Use of Sealed Sources Beyond Their Recommended Working Life

REGULATORY GUIDE: Use of Sealed Sources Beyond Their Recommended Working Life (PDF 126kb)

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