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Following is a question by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, in the Legislative Council today (March 7):
Question:
Given that a trade union has recently raised concerns about the impact of a system employing radio frequency identification technology on human health, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) individual government departments and public organisations have assessed the possible impact on human health of various systems which employ electromagnetic radiation such as the e-Passport system, X-ray vehicle scanning systems before introducing such systems; if they have, of the assessment standards adopted; if they have not, the reasons for that;
(b) safety standards or best practices have been formulated in respect of the working environment for systems which employ electromagnetic radiation to safeguard the health of workers; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) employers are required to provide sufficient training and issue working guidelines to the employees to ensure that they operate systems which employ electromagnetic radiation in a proper and safe manner; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
Electromagnetic radiation systems are systems that employ electromagnetic waves as medium of operation. They are widely used in a number of areas such as communications, data transmission, security check and medical care. Electromagnetic radiation produced by these systems can be categorised as either ionising radiation (such as X-ray systems) or non-ionising radiation (such as radiocommunications systems, radio frequency identification systems, etc).
At present, the import, export, possession and use of ionising radiation systems are subject to licensing by the Radiation Board established under the Radiation Ordinance (Cap. 303), and the systems must comply with the safety standards prescribed in the Radiation Ordinance. Those safety standards are made with reference to the guidelines issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Apart from serving as the licensing officer of the Radiation Board, Department of Health also provides occupational and environmental radiation monitoring services. For non-ionising radiation systems, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has issued the Code of Practice for the Protection of Workers and Members of Public Against Non-Ionising Radiation Hazards from Radio Transmitting Equipment (the CoP), developed with reference to the standards set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), to provide safety guidelines for those who design and operate radio transmitting equipment.
Regarding the question asked by Hon Sin Chung-kai, my reply is as follows:
(a) Before procuring systems which employ ionising radiation, government departments will stipulate in the procurement contract that such systems should comply with the latest standards and recommendations on radiation protection laid down in the Radiation Ordinance and by the ICRP and the WHO. Upon installation, relevant departments will ensure that the radiation produced by such systems is within safety limits. We understand that public sector organisations (e.g. the Hospital Authority, the Airport Authority, etc) have adopted similar requirements. For non-ionising radiation systems, government departments will draw reference to the safety standards laid down by OFTA in its CoP or relevant reports or the relevant recommendations of international organisations when procuring such systems.
(b) According to the Radiation Ordinance, the limit of the whole body radiation dose for a person undertaking radiation work is 20 mSv per year. The Department of Health has drawn up a series of safety guidelines for reference by the officers-in-charge and personnel who actually use or operate the ionising radiation systems. OFTA has also prepared a CoP for those who design or operate radio transmitting equipment, giving them advice on safety management, performance specifications of radio equipment, design of radio sites, operation protection measures, etc.
(c) In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509), employers who employ electromagnetic radiation systems in their workplaces must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure the safety and health at work of their employees. To this end, employers must take appropriate safety measures, including the provision of the necessary information, instructions, training and supervision of their employees; the provision and maintenance of safe equipment and systems in workplace; the implementation of arrangements for ensuring the safe use of equipment; and the provision and maintenance of a safe working environment.
Ends/Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:33
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