{"id":"radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980","name":"Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980","slug":"radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181786,"registerId":"wa-radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nRadiation Safety Act 1975\n\nRadiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980\n\nWestern Australia\n\nRadiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Term used: approved 1\n\n3. Qualifications required of persons engaged in certain activities 1\n\n4. Council may require qualifications of certain persons 2\n\n5. Syllabus for examination in radiation safety 2\n\n5A. Fees 3\n\n6. Penalty 3\n\nSchedule 1\n\nSchedule 2 — Fees for examinations\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 6\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nRadiation Safety Act 1975\n\nRadiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980*.\n\n##### 2. Term used: approved\n\nIn these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —\n\n  approved means approved by the Council.\n\n[Regulation 2 amended: Gazette 20 Jul 1990 p. 3466; 14 Sep 1999 p. 4530.]\n\n##### 3. Qualifications required of persons engaged in certain activities\n\n(1) A person shall not engage in —\n\n(a) the use of —\n\n(i) irradiating apparatus for chiropractic radiography or industrial radiography; or\n\n(ii) radioactive substances for industrial radiography or veterinary therapy;\n\n[(b) deleted]\n\n(c) the installation or repair of —\n\n(i) X‑ray apparatus; or\n\n(ii) equipment incorporating radioactive substances,\n\nunless he has passed an examination in radiation safety conducted by or on behalf of the Council, possesses an approved qualification in radiation safety or has been exempted from compliance with this subregulation under subregulation (2).\n\n(2) The Council may, on the application of a person who wishes to engage in one or more of the activities referred to in paragraphs (a) and (c) of subregulation (1), exempt that person from compliance with that subregulation subject to such conditions, restrictions or limitations as the Council may under section 36 of the Act impose.\n\n[Regulation 3 amended: Gazette 14 Sep 1999 p. 4530.]\n\n##### 4. Council may require qualifications of certain persons\n\nThe Council may, for the purpose of ensuring that a person who wishes to operate or use a particular type of radioactive substance, irradiating apparatus or electronic product, other than a radioactive substance, irradiating apparatus or electronic product referred to in regulation 3(1), for a purpose referred to in section 26(1)(a) of the Act is capable of doing so safely, require that person to pass an examination in radiation safety conducted by or on behalf of the Council or to possess an approved qualification in radiation safety within such period as is specified in that requirement.\n\n##### 5. Syllabus for examination in radiation safety\n\n(1) The syllabus for the examination in radiation safety referred to in regulations 3 and 4 shall consist of such of the subjects specified in Schedule 1 as the Council considers appropriate in each case.\n\n(2) A list of standards, rules, codes and specifications referred to in item 9 of Schedule 1 is to be made available free of charge at the office of the Council.\n\n[Regulation 5 amended: Gazette 19 Apr 1984 p. 1108; 21 Feb 1997 p. 1172.]\n\n##### 5A. Fees\n\nThe fees specified in Schedule 2 are payable by persons desiring to sit for the examination in radiation safety referred to in regulations 3 and 4.\n\n[Regulation 5A inserted: Gazette 19 Apr 1984 p. 1108.]\n\n##### 6. Penalty\n\nA person who commits the offence of contravening regulation 3 or a requirement made under regulation 4 is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1 000.\n\nSchedule 1\n\n[Regulation 5]\n\n**Subjects comprising syllabus of radiation safety examination**\n\n1. Properties and uses of radiation.\n\n2. Production, detection and measurement of radiation.\n\n3. Biological effects of radiation.\n\n4. Circumstances which may give rise to radiation hazards and means of protecting persons from those hazards.\n\n5. Theory and practice of production of radiographic or other images of persons, animals or things for diagnostic purposes.\n\n6. Recognition of technical artefacts, and normal anatomy and pathology of persons shown in images.\n\n7. Measures to be taken to eliminate unnecessary exposure, and to reduce dose from necessary exposure, of persons submitted to radiation for diagnostic purposes.\n\n8. The *Radiation Safety Act 1975*, and regulations made thereunder, together with all amendments to that Act and those regulations.\n\n9. Standards, rules, codes or specifications recognized by the Council for the purposes of regulation 5(1).\n\n[Schedule 1 amended: Gazette 19 Apr 1984 p. 1108; 15 Mar 1991 p. 1127; 24 Jan 1992 p. 367; 25 Jun 1993 p. 3078; 21 Feb 1997 p. 1172.]\n\nSchedule 2 — Fees for examinations\n\n[r. 5A]\n\n[Heading inserted: SL 2025/104 r. 22.]\n\n|  |  | **Fee ($)** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1. | Where the examination is in those parts of the syllabus set by the Council for persons desiring to engage in the use of irradiating apparatus for chiropractic radiography — |  |\n|  | (a) fee for restricted spinal examination (5 parts) | 800.00 |\n|  | (b) fee for extended (skull, chest, extremity) examination | 400.00 |\n|  | (c) fee for examination in both (a) and (b) | 800.00 |\n|  | (d) fee for examination in part or parts of (a) or (b) or both (a) and (b) | 400.00 |\n| 2. | Where the examination is conducted for the Council and is in a subject or subjects in a syllabus other than the syllabus referred to in item 1 — fee for each subject | 70.00 |\n\n\n[Schedule 2 inserted: SL 2025/104 r. 22.]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Published** | | **Commencement** | |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980* | 6 Jun 1980 p. 1669‑71 | | 6 Jun 1980 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1984* | 19 Apr 1984 p. 1108 | | 19 Apr 1984 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1988* | 24 Jun 1988 p. 2008 | | 24 Jun 1988 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1989* | 17 Nov 1989 p. 4108 | | 17 Nov 1989 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1990* | 20 Jul 1990 p. 3466 | | 20 Jul 1990 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1991* | 15 Mar 1991 p. 1127 | | 15 Mar 1991 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1991* | 28 Jun 1991 p. 3146 | | 1 Jul 1991 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 1991* | 24 Jan 1992 p. 367 | | 24 Jan 1992 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1992* | 26 Jun 1992 p. 2699 | | 1 Jul 1992 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1993* | 25 Jun 1993 p. 3077‑8 | | 25 Jun 1993 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1993* | 25 Jun 1993 p. 3091 | | 1 Oct 1993 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1994* | 27 May 1994 p. 2211 | | 1 Jul 1994 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1995* | 27 Jun 1995 p. 2549 | | 1 Oct 1995 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1996* | 28 Jun 1996 p. 3020‑1 | | 1 Oct 1996 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1997* | 21 Feb 1997 p. 1171‑2 | | 21 Feb 1997 | |\n| **Reprint of the *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980* as at 26 Mar 1999** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 1999* | 14 Sep 1999 p. 4529-30 | | 1 Oct 1999 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1999* | 14 Sep 1999 p. 4530 | | 14 Sep 1999 | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 2000* | 30 Jun 2000 p. 3413‑14 | | 1 Jul 2000 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 2014* | 30 Dec 2014 p. 5503‑4 | | r. 1 and 2: 30 Dec 2014 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 31 Dec 2014 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Regulations 1980* as at 6 Feb 2015** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | |\n| *Radiation Safety (Qualifications) Amendment Regulations 2015* | | 19 May 2015 p. 1753‑4 | | r. 1 and 2: 19 May 2015 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2015 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2016* Pt. 7 | | 17 Jun 2016 p. 2101-5 | | 1 Jul 2016 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2017* Pt. 10 | | 30 Jun 2017 p. 3568‑74 | | 1 Jul 2017 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2019* Pt. 10 | | 14 Jun 2019 p. 1883‑94 | | 1 Jul 2019 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2020* Pt. 7 | | SL 2020/97 26 Jun 2020 | | 1 Jul 2020 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2021* Pt. 7 | | SL 2021/108 29 Jun 2021 | | 1 Jul 2021 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2022* Pt. 10 | | SL 2022/136 15 Jul 2022 | | 16 Jul 2022 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2023* Pt. 10 | | SL 2023/96 30 Jun 2023 | | 1 Jul 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2024* Pt. 10 | | SL 2024/91 12 Jun 2024 | | 1 Jul 2024 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2025* Pt. 10 | | SL 2025/104 25 Jun 2025 | | 1 Jul 2025 (see r. 2(b)) |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\napproved 2\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have been amended since first made: a fees provision and Schedule 2 were inserted (reg 5A; Schedule 2), paragraph (b) of reg 3 was deleted, and Schedule 1 has been amended multiple times. Those changes expand the instrument’s administrative reach by prescribing applicant fees and updating the syllabus and exemptions framework, shifting some costs to exam candidates and increasing the Council’s procedural role (see regs 3, 4, 5, 5A and Schedule 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow substantive scope: concentrates on qualifications, examinations, syllabus and fees rather than detailed operational controls (regs 3–5A, Schedules 1–2).","Administrative discretion: Council may exempt applicants or impose conditions and may require exams for other devices (reg 3(2), reg 4) — interpretive and procedural discretion for the regulator.","Cross‑references to primary Act and external standards: syllabus includes the Radiation Safety Act 1975 and Council‑recognized codes/standards, requiring access to and alignment with other instruments (Schedule 1 item 8–9; reg 5(2)).","Fee and penalty mechanics: exam fees are prescribed in Schedule 2 and a capped criminal fine applies, creating direct compliance costs and enforcement risk for individuals (reg 5A; reg 6; Schedule 2).","Temporal amendments: multiple historical amendments (compilation table) and insertion of new rules (eg. reg 5A, Schedule 2) mean users must consult the up‑to‑date text to know current scope.","Syllabus breadth: examination covers technical, biological and legal topics (Schedule 1 items 1–9), requiring multidisciplinary assessment and recordkeeping by candidates and the Council."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations require people who use certain X‑ray or radioactive equipment, or install or repair such equipment, to hold an approved radiation‑safety qualification or pass an examination run by the Council; the Council can grant exemptions or require exams for other devices. The instrument sets the exam syllabus, prescribes fees for sitting exams (Schedule 2) and fixes a maximum fine of $1,000 for non‑compliance."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed. No legislative content was available for analysis. The page returned only a system error message indicating the URL is no longer active on the Western Australian legislation website."},"complexity_factors":["Legislative text is entirely unavailable — only an error page was provided","No provisions, definitions, schedules, or operative clauses could be assessed","Complexity score of 1 reflects absence of content, not simplicity of the law itself","The regulations may in reality be moderately to highly complex given the technical nature of radiation safety qualification frameworks"],"plain_english_summary":"These 1980 Western Australian regulations concern radiation safety by setting qualification, training or licensing requirements for people who handle radiation or radioactive materials. They would primarily affect medical, mining, industrial and research workers, their employers, and licensing authorities. The original text isn’t available here, so check the WA legislation site for the current, authoritative version."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing qualification requirements for specific radiation-related activities. While there have been numerous amendments since 1980, these have primarily updated examination fees (via the Health Regulations Amendment series from 2016-2025) and made minor technical adjustments (such as deleting paragraph 3(1)(b) in 1999). The core regulatory scheme—requiring exams for specific activities, allowing Council exemptions, and setting syllabi—has remained consistent with the original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Only 1 defined term ('approved') in the interpretation section","Straightforward structure with 6 regulations plus 2 schedules","Minimal cross-referencing (primarily to the parent Act and within the regulations themselves)","Simple conditional logic: prohibition + exemption mechanism in regulation 3","No nested exceptions or complex definitional chains","Recent amendments limited to fee updates via external regulations (Health Regulations Amendment series), leaving substantive provisions largely untouched since 1999","Short length (approximately 4 pages of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out who needs formal qualifications to work with radiation equipment in Western Australia, and what exams they must pass.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- People who use X-ray machines for chiropractic or industrial radiography\n- People who use radioactive substances for industrial radiography or veterinary therapy\n- People who install or repair X-ray equipment or equipment containing radioactive substances\n- Anyone else the Radiological Council decides needs qualifications to operate specific radiation equipment safely\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Bans unqualified work:** You cannot do the jobs listed above unless you have passed a radiation safety exam run by the Radiological Council, hold an approved qualification, or have been granted an exemption.\n- **Sets exam content:** The Council decides which subjects from Schedule 1 are relevant for each type of work. Topics include radiation properties, biological effects, safety measures, and the relevant laws.\n- **Allows exemptions:** The Council can exempt individuals from the qualification requirements, but may attach conditions (like supervision limits or restricted activities).\n- **Charges fees:** People sitting the exams must pay fees set out in Schedule 2 (ranging from $400 to $800 for chiropractic radiography exams, or $70 per subject for other exams).\n- **Penalties:** Breaking these rules can result in a fine of up to $1,000.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nRadiation can cause serious harm if mishandled. These rules ensure that only properly trained people operate dangerous equipment, protecting workers, patients, and the public from unnecessary exposure."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980","history":"/api/acts/radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiation-safety-qualifications-regulations-1980/documents"}}