4Radiation protection principle

4 Radiation protection principle (1) The radiation protection principle means the principle that people, property and the environment should be protected from unnecessary exposure to radiation through the processes of justification, limitation and optimisation for which— (a) justification involves assessing whether the benefits of a radiation practice, or the use of a radiation source, outweigh the detriment caused by the practice or source; and (b) limitation involves setting radiation dose limits, or imposing other measures, so that the health risk to anyone, or the risk of damage to property or the environment, from being exposed to radiation is below unacceptable levels; and (c) optimisation— (i) in relation to the conduct of a radiation practice, or the use of a radiation source, that may expose a person, property or the environment to radiation involves keeping— (A) the magnitude of individual doses of, or the number of people who may be exposed to, ionising radiation; or

Preliminary Part 1 (B) if the magnitude of individual doses, or the number of people who may be exposed, is uncertain—the likelihood of exposures of ionising radiation happening; as low as reasonably achievable taking into account economic, social and environmental factors; and (ii) optimising, to a level of cost effectiveness, the conduct of a radiation practice, or the use of a radiation source, that may expose a person, property or the environment to non-ionising radiation. (2) The advisory committee, and anyone else with functions under this Act, must have regard to the radiation protection principle in exercising a function under this Act. Note A reference to an Act includes a reference to the statutory instruments made or in force under the Act, including regulations (see Legislation Act, s 104).