Vol. 445 No. 9
223 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health his Department's policy in relation to the storage of flammable goods and low level radioactive waste by hospitals; the situation which exists in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in this regard; and if this storage represents a threat to the health of staff or local residents. [1342/94]
It is the policy of my Department that flammable goods should be stored in such a way as to minimise the risk of fire. Flammable liquids are routinely used in hospital laboratories and are best stored in a safe, secure building outside the main hospital building.
All sources of ionizing radiation used in hospitals are subject to control by licence issued by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), which is the competent authority in this area. The detailed procedures in operation in any particular hospital are a matter for that hospital under the RPII licensing arrangements.
The general practice is that sealed radioactive sources used by hospitals are returned to the manufacturers. Other radioactive sources used in medical treatment and diagnosis tend to have a short active life. If necessary, these sources are held in storage until such time as the radioactivity has decayed to a negligible level, at which stage they may be disposed of as non-radioactive waste.
Beaumont Hospital has had both a flammable goods store and a radioactive waste store on the site since the hospital opened. In order to improve safety and security the hospital is proposing to build new and improved stores and has applied to Dublin Corporation for planning permission to do so.
