Pregnacies and UK legislation

[Roger Gelder <74167.2472@CompuServe.COM>]

UK Regulations applying to places of work.
You are going to love these - I do
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               In general
"work with ionising radiation" means any work -
(a) involving the production, processing, handling, use, holding, storage, moving, transport, or disposal of any radioactive substance;
(b) involving the operation or use of any radiation generator; or
(c) in which there is exposure to ... radon.. > 6.24 E-7 J/m^3 (0.03 working levels)
The word "work" shall be extended to include instruction or training which a person undergoes as a trainee
...................................
               Dose Limitation
Every employer shall .. take all necessary steps to restrict, as far as reasonably practicable, the extent to which his employees are exposed to ionising radiation.
An employee .... shall not knowingly expose himself or any other person to an extent greater than is reasonably necessary  ... etc
.....................................
               Specifically
"woman of reproductive capacity"..... made subject to additional dose limit... by an entry in her health record made by an employment medical adviser or appointed doctor.
     [employment medical adviser = the factory inspecor's doctor]

               Dose Limits for the Whole Body
.... employees aged 18 years or over              50mSv;
.... for trainees aged under 18 years             15 mSv;
.... for any other person                          5 mSv

     Dose Limit for the Abdomen of a Women of Reproductive Capacity
.... for the abdomen ....     13 mSv in any consecutive 3 month interval

     Dose Limit for the Abdomen of a Pregnant Women
.... for the abdomen ....     10 mSv during the declared term of pregnancy
     [NB - for external radiation]
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In addition to these regulations, there are Advisory Codes of Practice which say the same thing but simpler and often specifically to certain types of radiation work. They help, not hinder.
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Other & different legislation prohibits 'unfair dismissal'
Tribunals (like courts of law for work) can assess damages from unfair dismissal. Pregnancy is not an acceptable reason for dismissal.
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Our UK legislation requires not only employers but also employees to behave responsibly, to cooperate in solving problems. 
Litigation is rare but not unknown, and is neither a "shoo-in" for an employer, nor a "meal-ticket" for an employee. Records of exposure are required to be kept for 50 years and would be called.
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Inspectors will always enforce regulations but require provoking before 'biting', although gross negligence and disregard for these regulations will get results.
Often, after a preliminary visit, there might be a warning given where compliance could be improved; if still bad after a second visit, an "improvement notice" might be issued; if further visits show the same poor record, a "prohibition notice", stopping the particular practice, would be next. This can result in prosecution and substantial fines.

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You will note several aspects which relate to recent topics in RADSAFE such as students ( trainees), work (clinics, treatment rooms), etc. 
You are 'at work' in a factory, a power plant, a hospital, clinic or college, a mine, or as a teacher at a school with excessive radon levels. 

Our "ALARP",As Low As Reasonably Practicable, differs from "ALARA", As Low As Readily Achievable" and currently presents us with compliance problems with European legislation which uses only ALARA.

Anything is Achievable, it may not be Reasonably Practicable, 
     remember ICRP - subject to social and economic factors?

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The above comments paraphrase Regulations and are taken as extracts from the more complex and encompassing complete document, namely :-
          The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985
The extracts are shortened for this forum. The real thing has more legal surroundings than my extracts, but you should get the trend.

I have always viewed Regulations as a history of accidents, hopefully being prevented from being repeated by rational people behaving irrationally or unwittingly. Ignorance of the Law is still no excuse.

I think they may be open to more professional interpretation, provided that any such presentation is supported by sound survey and dosimetry results to support a case.

Whilst the aspects concerning pregnancy seem blunt, I believe they reflect a legislative additional care for the unprotected.
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These really are my own views only.