Performance monitoring principles
The performance monitoring principles adopted by ARPANSA are enshrined in the ARPANSA Regulatory Activities Policy issued by the CEO and are documented in detail in the ARPANSA Inspection and ARPANSA Compliance manuals. The policy recognises that compliance monitoring and enforcement activities are risk-based, adopt international best practice, and take a graded approach depending on the inherent hazard of the facility or source being inspected.
As a result some licence holders will receive more regulatory oversight (inspections) than others and the performance information should not be taken as a direct comparison between licence holders but rather a reflection of individual performance.
The information below highlights good practices, inspection results, improvement notices issued by regulatory officers and findings of breach by the CEO of ARPANSA. Reporting this information aims to promote safety and security and to provide an opportunity for licence holders to learn from the experience of others. Further, reporting ARPANSA's compliance monitoring and enforcement activities in a transparent manner will assist the public's understanding of our regulatory activities.
Please note that matters with security implications are not published until the matter is resolved to ensure that any security vulnerabilities are not exposed. Nevertheless, security matters are important learning opportunities for all licence holders and are published in the spirit of promoting continuous improvement.
ARPANSA aims to ensure that all information on this website is current.
Understanding the outcomes
Result
| Good practice – When a licence holder is identified as having implemented a program, system or process that demonstrates ‘going above and beyond’ the baseline requirements for safety and security. Such practices are shared below for other licence holders to consider. |
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| Compliant – When a licence holder has been found to comply with the Act, Regulations and licence conditions during an inspection. |
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Breach – A breach is a finding by the CEO of ARPANSA relating to an identified non-compliance. Such a finding will only be made after considering all the facts and giving the licence holder the opportunity to respond to the alleged non-compliance. Sections 59 and 60 of the Act require the CEO to report details of any breach of licence conditions by a licence holder to Parliament through the Minister. |
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| Improvement notice – An improvement notice is a tool used to require the licence holder to do something, or stop doing something, to manage risk to people and/or the environment. An inspector may issue an improvement notice where a potential or actual non-compliance has been identified. |
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Method of detection
| Self-reported – The matter was reported by the licence holder. ARPANSA encourages licence holders to be open and transparent. Reporting non-compliance whenever it is identified is considered an indicator of good safety culture. |
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| Inspection – The matter was identified during a compliance inspection. |
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| Review – The matter was identified from an event, observation or incident investigation. |
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Implications for safety
| Administrative – The matter was of an administrative nature without significant implications for safety or security. |
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| Not significant – The matter was assessed to not have significant nuclear or radiation safety or security implications. |
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| Significant – The matter was assessed to have significant nuclear or radiation safety or security implications. |
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ASC Pty Ltd
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0190 | Inspection | N/A | 18/07/22 | N/A |
Austrade
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Breach | S0203 | Review | Administrative | 19/04/2022 | 27/04/2022 |
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Australian National University
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0027 | Inspection | N/A | 1-2/12/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0027 | Inspection | N/A | 27-28/04/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0027 | Inspection | N/A | 11-12/05/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0073, F0074, F0075 | Inspection | N/A | 3 May 2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0027 | Inspection | N/A | 25-26 May 2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0027 | Inspection | N/A | 27-28 March 2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0027 | Inspection | N/A | 15 August 2024 | N/A |
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Breach | F0262 | Inspection | Significant | 03/07/2023 | Open |
| Breach | F0316 | Review | Significant | 19/09/2023 | Open |
| Breach | F0309 | Self-reported | Significant | 17/09/2019 | 02/12/2022 |
| Breach | S0045 | Inspection (withheld from publication) | Not significant | 21/02/2021 | Open |
| Breach | F0251 | Review | Significant | 12/02/2021 | 1/05/2021 |
| Breach | S0045 | Self-reported | Not significant | 18/02/2021 | 18/02/2021 |
| Compliant | F0211 | Inspection | N/A | 5/03/2021 | N/A |
| Improvement notice | S0045 | Review | Significant | 26/03/2021 | 29/10/2021 |
| Breach | F0157, F0245, F0251 and F0260 | Review | Not significant | 19/04/2021 | Closed - 30/07/2021 |
| Breach | F0244 | Inspection | Not significant | 17/05/2021 | 28/10/2021 |
| Good practice1 | S0045 | Inspection | N/A | 28/05/2021 | N/A |
| Breach | F0262 | Inspection | Significant | 17/06/2021 | Closed |
| Compliant | F0260 | Inspection | N/A | 8/07/2021 | N/A |
| Breach | F0243 | Inspection | Not significant | 26/08/2021 | 26/08/2021 |
| Compliant | F0262 | Inspection | N/A | 3/08/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0309 | Inspection | N/A | 30/09/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0157 | Inspection | N/A | 17-18/11/2021 | N/A |
| Breach | F0271 | Inspection | Not significant | 08/12/2021 | Closed |
| Breach | F0260 | Self-Reported | Not significant | 11/04/2022 | 30/05/2022 |
| Compliant | F0262 | Inspection | Not significant | 31/03/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0247 | Inspection | Not significant | 28/02/2022 | N/A |
| Good practice | F0248 | Inspection | N/A | 28/02/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0309 | Inspection | N/A | 14/06/2022 | N/A |
| Breach | F0260 | Self-Reported | Not significant | 07/07/2022 | 07/07/2022 |
| Compliant | F0244 | Inspection | N/A | 13/07/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0157 | Inspection | N/A | 15-16/09/2022 | N/A |
| Breach | F0260 | Self-reported | Not significant | 20/10/2022 | 21/10/2022 |
| Compliant | F0245 | Inspection | N/A | 24-25/11/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0316 and F0290 | Inspection | N/A | 15-16/02/2023 and 14/03/2023 | N/A |
| Breach | F0316 | Self-reported | Significant | 24/04/2023 | Open |
| Improvement notice | F0243 | Inspection | Significant | 23/06/2021 | 08/12/2023 |
| Compliant | F0309 | Inspection | N/A | 14/11/2023 | N/A |
| Potential Non-Compliant | S0045 | Inspection | N/A | 7-8/2/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0260 | Inspection | N/A | 13/03/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0293 | Inspection | N/A | 13/03/2024 | N/A |
| Breach | F0262 | Self-reported | Significant | 26/07/2024 | 26/07/2024 |
| Breach | F0309 | Self-reported | Not Significant | 02/08/2024 | Closed 02/08/2024 |
| Breach | F0247 | Self-reported | Not Significant | 02/10/2024 | Closed 02/10/2024 |
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Breach | F0046 | Self-reported | Significant | 19/11/2021 | Closed |
| Compliant | S0002 | Inspection | N/A | 24/05/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0003 | Inspection | N/A | 2-3/05/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0046 | Inspection | N/A | 26-27/03/2024 | N/A |
Compliant | S0002 | Inspection | N/A | 21-22/05/2024 | N/A |
Australian Signals Directorate
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Good practice3 | S0335 | Inspection (withheld from publication) | N/A | 30/04/2021 | N/A |
Australian War Memorial
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0080 | Inspection | N/A | 11/03/2021 | N/A |
Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Breach | S0005 | Inspection | Not significant | 06/07/2023 | 08/09/2023 |
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Good practice2 | S0064 | Inspection (report withheld) | Not significant | 2/09/2021 | 16/12/2021 |
Compliant | S0064 | Inspection | N/A | 3/11/22 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0216, S0019 and S0021 | Inspection | N/A | 16/03/23 | N/A |
Compliant | S0216 | Inspection | N/A | 22/03/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0023 | Inspection | N/A | 20-21/06/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0064 | Inspection | N/A | 20-21/06/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0021 | Inspection | N/A | 20-21/6/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0009 | Inspection | N/A | 20-21/6/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0021 | Inspection | N/A | 13/3/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0023 | Inspection | N/A | 14/03/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0064 | Inspection | N/A | 18/06/2024-20/06/2024 | N/A |
CSIRO Business and Infrastructure Services
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0013 | Inspection | N/A | 21/07/2022 | N/A |
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (formally know as the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment)
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0120 | Inspection | N/A | 24/06/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0055 | Inspection | N/A | 28/10/2021 - 22/2/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0008 | Inspection | N/A | 07/06/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0055 | Inspection | N/A | 06/06/2023 | N/A |
| Non-Compliant | S0015 | Inspection | N/A | 16/07/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0340 | Inspection | N/A | 17/07/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0093 | Inspection | N/A | 18/07/2024 | N/A |
Department of Defence/Australian Defence Force
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0042 | Inspection | N/A | 30-31 July 2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0042 | Inspection | N/A | 2-3 July 2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0042 | Inspection | N/A | 11/04/2024 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0213 | Inspection | N/A | 20/07/22 - 21/07/22 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0252 | Inspection | N/A | 19/07/22 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0042 | Inspection (report withheld) | N/A | 08/06/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0042 | Inspection | N/A | 09/06/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0113 | Inspection | N/A | 2-3/2/2022 | N/A |
| Breach | S0345 | Self-reported | N/A | 19/10/2023 | 31/01/2024 |
Department of Home Affairs
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0092 | Inspection | N/A | 24/06/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0092 | Inspection | N/A | 15/07/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0092 | Inspection | N/A | 3/09/2021 | N/A |
| Breach | S0135 | Self-reported | Not significant | 6/10/2021 | 6/10/2021 |
| Compliant | F0136 | Inspection | N/A | 15/12/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0155 | Inspection | N/A | 9/2/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0125 | Inspection | N/A | 30/3/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | F0131 | Inspection | N/A | 24/5/2022 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0188 | Inspection | N/A | 5/12/2023 | N/A |
Director of National Parks
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Breach | F0093 | Inspection | Not significant | 20/05/2021 | 30/06/2021 |
| Breach | F0093 | Inspection | Not significant | 20/05/2021 | 30/06/2021 |
Geoscience Australia
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0014 | Inspection | N/A | 4/12/2023 | N/A |
National Gallery of Australia
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0024 | Inspection | N/A | 11/03/2021 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0024 | Inspection | N/A | 19/06/2023 | N/A |
| Compliant | S0024 | Inspection | N/A | 23/08/2024 | N/A |
Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS)
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Breach | S0324 | Inspection | Not significant | 25/06/2021 | 15/10/2021 |
| Breach | S0324 | Inspection | Not significant | 25/06/2021 | 15/10/2021 |
Note Printing Australia
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0033 | Inspection | N/A | 6 June 2024 | N/A |
Silex Systems
| Outcome | Licence number | Method of detection | Implications for safety or security | Date identified/determined | Date resolved |
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| Compliant | S0090 | Inspection | N/A | 17/12/2022 | N/A |
List of good practices
| 1 | The use of external video cameras capable of providing safe observation from outside the laboratory when forensic examination of radiological materials takes place thereby limiting the risk of exposure. |
| 2 | An electronic radiation source inspection checklist used to assess the compliance of controlled apparatus with both the licence holder’s internal requirements and relevant codes and standards. |
| 3 | The use of computer aided modelling of the floor plan or layout of the indoor area in which industrial radiography is to be conducted for the purpose of identifying areas of potential exposure and establishing safety boundaries. |
