❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice from 2002 inquires about radiation exposure in the mining industry, staff qualifications, and public access to radiation dose reports. The response provides data on worker exposure levels, staffing details, and explains why reports are not public due to privacy concerns.
AnsweredQoN 657Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many workers in the mining industry received radiation doses greater than 1, 5, 10 or 20 millisieverts per annum in each of the past five years?
(2) What was the maximum annual radiation dose received by any single worker in each of the last five years?
(3) What was the total dose of radiation received by all workers in the mining industry in each of the last five years?
(4) What are the names, qualifications and duties of the current staff working in the Mines Radiation Secretariat (or equivalent)?
(5) Are the annual reports on radiation doses in the mining industry available to the public?
(6) If yes, from where?
(7) If not, why not?
(2) What was the maximum annual radiation dose received by any single worker in each of the last five years?
(3) What was the total dose of radiation received by all workers in the mining industry in each of the last five years?
(4) What are the names, qualifications and duties of the current staff working in the Mines Radiation Secretariat (or equivalent)?
(5) Are the annual reports on radiation doses in the mining industry available to the public?
(6) If yes, from where?
(7) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 June 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
34 days
(1) Over the 5-year period from 1996 to 2001, 1290 workers in the mining industry were monitored for internal and external radiation exposure. The Radiation Safety (General) Regulations set exposure limits for radiation workers such that in any 5-year period the average effective dose must not exceed 20 mSv per year and during the same period not exceed 50 mSv over any 12 months. The doses above natural background levels received by these workers in years 1996 to 2001 can be summarised as - Number of Workers Average total effective dose per year (mSv) 0 (0%) >20 10 (0.8%) 10 to 20 5 (0.4%) 5 to 10 284 (22%) 1 to 5 991 (76.8%) <1 Total 1290 (2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
The doses above natural background levels received by these workers in years 1996 to 2001 can be summarised as - Number of Workers Average total effective dose per year (mSv) 0 (0%) >20 10 (0.8%) 10 to 20 5 (0.4%) 5 to 10 284 (22%) 1 to 5 991 (76.8%) <1 Total 1290 (2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
Number of Workers Average total effective dose per year (mSv) 0 (0%) >20 10 (0.8%) 10 to 20 5 (0.4%) 5 to 10 284 (22%) 1 to 5 991 (76.8%) <1 Total 1290 (2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(7) Refer to (5)
The doses above natural background levels received by these workers in years 1996 to 2001 can be summarised as - Number of Workers Average total effective dose per year (mSv) 0 (0%) >20 10 (0.8%) 10 to 20 5 (0.4%) 5 to 10 284 (22%) 1 to 5 991 (76.8%) <1 Total 1290 (2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
Number of Workers Average total effective dose per year (mSv) 0 (0%) >20 10 (0.8%) 10 to 20 5 (0.4%) 5 to 10 284 (22%) 1 to 5 991 (76.8%) <1 Total 1290 (2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(2) Over the five-year period the highest total effective dose of any worker in any one-year was less than 20 mSv. (3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(3) This is difficult to answer, however the average annual effective dose to mine workers is 0.8mSv. For comparison, we are all exposed to about 2mSv annually from natural background sources of radiation. (4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(4) Two staff in Mining Operations Division are involved in the radiation safety area. The Manager of Occupational Health (B App Sci) and a Scientific Officer – Radiation (B App Sci). (5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(5) The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations require that results of radiation monitoring be reported to the State Mining Engineer. These reports cannot be made available to the public as they contain confidential information, such as worker's personal details. (6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(6) Refer to (5) (7) Refer to (5)
(7) Refer to (5)
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