KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA) is urging facilities utilising equipment and material that emit ionising radiation to obtain the requisite authorisation.

This call comes from the Director General, Dr Cliff Riley, who discloses that of the total number of Jamaican entities that are engaged in activities involving the use of inputs emitting radiation, “just about 39 per cent are licensed to be in possession and use of those resources”.

Dr Riley, who spoke during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the agency’s head office in Kingston, explained that “there is… a requirement by law for all users of ionising radiation sources to seek a grant of authorisation from the HSRA”.

Consequent on concerns related to the potential hazards and risks associated with ionising radiation if not properly managed, he urged facilities using these without authorisation to reach out to the HSRA to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements.

To do so, individuals may call 876-632-4289 or send an email to info@hsra.org.jm.

“We have the technical competencies, and our team is readily available to… provide that level of technical support and a step-by-step guide, in terms of what needs to be done and the next steps to go through the entire process,” the director general informed.

The undertaking is quite affordable, with the registration cost ranging from $25,000 to $50,000.

“So we are encouraging persons within the Jamaican space, primarily [those who use] X-ray generators and radioactive materials, to go through the process of ensuring that their systems are in compliance,” Dr Riley added.

Entities deemed in breach of the regulatory requirements can be fined up to $3,000,000.

Dr Riley maintained that the authority is not looking to restrict or close businesses, but rather to assist in ensuring that adequate safety measures, radiation protection protocols, and emergency response plans to mitigate potential hazards are in place.

The director general also encouraged people employed to facilities that have not yet been registered to reach out to the HSRA, “even if it’s just a matter of ensuring their own safety, as they [too] engage and use ionising radiation sources”.

For her part, Senior Director of the HSRA’s Radiation and Safety Unit, Tracey-Ann Elliott pointed out that as the authority seeks to advance public health, “it is important that consumers are also knowledgeable about the risks that they face in utilising facilities that are not authorised”.

As such, she said it is imperative that consumers check to ensure that the facilities with which they do business “have that certificate of authorisation that indicates that the HSRA was on the ground, [and] is regulating and ensuring [your] protection”.

The list of authorised facilities can be found on the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s website at https://www.miic.gov.jm/content/hazardous-substances-regulatory-authority-hsra.

-JIS