Legal bases

ICON legal basics

in radiological emergency management

Strahlenschutzgesetz (Radiation Protection Act) and Interventionsverordnung (Intervention Ordinance)

The Radiation Protection Act 2020 and the Intervention Ordinance 2020 constitute the legal bases for the efficient implementation of protective measures for the population.

The competences in the case of a radiological emergency situation such as after an accident at a nuclear power station are subdivided among federal government and Federal Provinces. In case of the occurrence of such a radiological event, the Ministry of Environment evaluates the situation and defines, with the participation of the Ministry of Health, the necessary protective measures. The Provincial Governor implements these measures.

In the case of small-scale radiological events such as in the case of transport accidents with a source of radiation, the Provincial Governor is in charge of assessing the situation, taking radiation protection measures and informing the population.

The Ordinance on interventions in the case of radiological emergencies and of permanent radiation expositions contains important provisions for radiation protection measures in the case of events, such as accidents in nuclear power stations, transport accidents with sources of radiation or terrorist scenarios with radioactive substances.

Central points of the Ordinance are:

  • The definition of criteria, where measures for the protection of the population, such as staying in buildings or taking potassium iodide tablets, have to be taken into consideration
  • List of possible protective measures
  • Provisions for the preparation of emergency plans at national and at provincial levels
  • Provisions on the information of the population if such an event occurs
  • Definition of the training and the equipment and/or the physical and medical surveillance of the “emergency staff” carrying out the emergency measures in the concrete event
  • Reference values of the maximum dose for emergency staff