Risk of radiation exposure results in company fine

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In 2009, a company called Terrill Bros was fined after putting their employees at risk of exposure to ionizing radiation over a 10-year long period.

Terrill Bros. Limited’s external radiation protection adviser (RPA) Found failings in the access controls and warning systems at the company’s foundry on Guilford Road, Hayle, Cornwall.

Within the 10-year long period, the company received RPA visits, reports and advice, but no action was taken.

Risk of radiation exposure

In February 2019, the Health and safety executive (HSE) carried out an unannounced inspection of the foundry. The investigation found that the door to the company’s industrial radiography enclosure did not have adequate interlocks nor was there a suitable trapped key system to prevent access.

Also, another failing was that there were also no pre-exposure warning systems or automatic and failsafe warning lights in place. This showed that employees at Terrill Bro. limited were put at risk of exposure to high dose rates of ionizing radiation at their workplace.

As a result of putting their employees at risk of high dose rates of ionizing radiation, the company pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 9 (1) of the ionizing radiations regulation 2017, and regulation 8(1) of the preceding ionizing radiation regulations 1999. The company was then fined £33,750 and ordered to pay costs of £47,601 at Truro Crown Court on 14 April 2023.

What is ionizing radiation?

Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that travel in the form of electromagnetic waves (gamma or X-rays) or particles (neutrons, beta or alpha). The spontaneous disintegration of atoms is called radioactivity, and the excess energy emitted is a form of ionizing radiation.

Exposure to ionizing radiation may be internal or external and can be acquired through various exposure pathways. Internal exposure to ionizing radiation occurs when a radionuclide is inhaled, ingested, or enters into the bloodstream. External exposure may occur when airborne radioactive material is deposited on skin or clothes.

Ionizing radiation can be dangerous as radioactive emissions cause dangerous ionization by removing electrons from atoms. When this happens with molecules in living cells, the genetic material of a cell is damaged. This could potentially lead to cancer. Radiation can burn the skin or cause skin cancer and also radiation could cause leukemia and other diseases of the blood etc.

Symptoms of radiation sickness

The severity of symptoms of radiation sickness depends on how much radiation you have absorbed.

The initial symptoms of treatable radiation sickness are usually:

Nausea
Vomiting

Symptoms of Mild exposure to radiation sickness could take hours to weeks before any signs and symptoms begin. With severe exposure, the signs and symptoms can begin minutes to days after exposure.

Possible symptoms include:

Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Headache
Fever
Dizziness and disorientation
Weakness and fatigue
Hair loss
Bloody vomit and stools from internal bleeding
Infections
Low blood pressure

Causes

Possible sources of high-dose radiation include the following:

An accident at a nuclear industrial facility
An attack on a nuclear facility
Detonation of a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material.
Detonation of a standard nuclear weapon

Prevention

When it comes to ionizing radiation, remember time, distance, and shielding:

Minimize time spent in areas with elevated radiation levels. Minimizing the exposure time reduces a worker’s dose from the radiation source.

Maximize distance from source(s) of radiation. A worker’s radiation dose decreases as the worker’s distance from the source increases. For gamma rays and X-rays, the radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source (i.e., the inverse square law). This means increasing the distance by a factor of 2 decreases the dose rate by a factor of 4.
Use shielding for radiation sources (i.e., placing an appropriate shield between source(s) of radiation and workers). Inserting the proper shielding (e.g., lead, concrete, or special plastic shields depending on the type of radiation) between a worker and a radiation source will greatly reduce or eliminate the dose received by the worker.

If you or anyone you know has been suffering from radiation sickness and is experiencing the symptoms listed above, then you might be able to claim compensation. We urge you to discuss your complaints and symptoms with a medical professional and subsequently seek legal advice.

If you feel your injuries have been caused as a result of your work and wish to enquire about a potential claim for compensation, please contact us. Our number is 0113 200 9720

Resources

Ionizing radiation, health effects and protective measures (who.int)

Radiation sickness – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Ionizing Radiation – Control and Prevention | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)

The effects of radiation on the human body – The dangers and uses of radiation – CCEA – GCSE Combined Science Revision – CCEA Double Award – BBC Bitesize

Company fined for putting workers at risk of radiation exposure