Berkshire Company Fined £16,000 for Placing Employee in Jeopardy
An employee of Gemini Technology (Reading) Limited faced the risk of being exposed to 500 milliSieverts (mSv) per hour while working on an irradiator at a calibration facility managed by the Ministry of Defence on September 7, 2018.
Radiation Dose
To provide some context, the average annual radiation dose for an individual in the UK is 2.7 mSv. Doses exceeding 100 mSv can result in changes to red blood cells, and even small radiation doses can elevate the long-term risk of developing cancer.
Gemini Technology
Gemini Technology was summoned to the MOD site on Crescent Road, Gosport, to resolve an issue with the irradiator for which it served as the service agent. A high-activity Caesium-137 source had become stuck in an unshielded position within the irradiator during an incident on September 6, 2018.
Remedial Work
The remedial work carried out by the Gemini Technology employee on the following day involved the removal of the top of the machine's shielded housing, raising the radioactive source, and manually rotating a carousel containing several radioactive sources. This action exposed the employee to dose rates of up to 500 mSv per hour.
HSE Inquiry
An inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Gemini Technology had been working with ionising radiation for several years and had established itself as a reputable brand in its field. Nonetheless, the company had failed to formally engage a suitable radiation protection adviser, as mandated by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. Furthermore, the firm had not conducted appropriate and thorough risk assessments for the tasks it undertook, consequently failing to identify and implement the necessary control measures to mitigate the risk of ionising radiation exposure, potentially endangering its employees.
Verdict and Fine
Gemini Technology (Reading) Limited, situated at Wellington Industrial Estate, Basingstoke Road, Spencers Wood, Reading, Berkshire, admitted to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 9(1) of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. The company received a £16,000 fine and was ordered to pay £25,000 in costs at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on September 15, 2023.
HSE specialist inspector of radiation Karen Fuller said: “The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 exist to protect those at work from ionising radiation and other people who could be affected by this type of work."
“All companies working with ionising radiation must properly assess the risks to their employees, and others, to ensure that they take all steps necessary to restrict exposure. It is essential that they consult a competent radiation protection adviser to facilitate this. Only then can they be confident that any exposure to ionising radiation is kept as low as reasonably practicable."
“This situation could so easily have been avoided by properly considering the risks involved, identifying the required control measures, and ensuring safe working practices were put in place. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement actions against those that fall below the required standards.”