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What it regulates
It prevents unintended exposure from radioactive sources outside regulatory control, particularly in metal recycling and transit locations. It requires monitoring, safe isolation, specialist intervention and documented training. Its OSH connection is express, although it also protects the public and environment.
Who it applies to
Articles 1, 4, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 17 and additional provision 1, limited to prevention, response and worker protection. The scope follows the installations and circumstances defined by the decree; an authorised radioactive source is not automatically an orphan source. Financial and tax rules are excluded.
Key provisions
Facilities recovering, storing or handling metal materials for recycling must have a documented radiation monitoring and control system.
Article 4On detecting radioactive material, the holder or manager must immediately contact an authorised technical unit to characterise it, arrange authorised removal and keep it safely isolated until ENRESA removes it. Protecting installation workers is an express purpose.
Article 8If a source has been processed, the affected production activity must stop, necessary self-protection measures must be taken and the listed authorities informed immediately. Cleaning and decontamination require a specialist plan and radiation control; contaminated material cannot be used or disposed of outside the statutory conditions.
Article 9Training for management and potentially exposed workers must cover visual detection of sources and containers, basic radiation and protection concepts, action when a source is suspected, and use of available monitoring instruments. Absence of a self-protection plan does not remove these requirements.
Article 14Information and training must be delivered by accredited technicians of the holder or technical units authorised for that advice. Activities must be recorded and documented, with the technical signature required by Article 14(3).
Article 14Anyone suspecting an orphan source must notify the autonomous community’s emergency services. They inform the CSN so that specialist advice and assistance can be made available.
Article 17History and versions
BOE publication: 27/04/2020 · Initial entry into force: 28/04/2020
BOE-A-2020-4667Published on 27 April 2020 and effective from 28 April 2020. It separated orphan sources from Royal Decree 229/2006, repealing Articles 10(2), 11 and 12 and amending Article 1. No textual amendments to this decree appear in the consulted sources; the 2024 radiation and 2026 self-protection contexts are added.
Original prevention, training and response rules for orphan sources.
BOE-A-2020-4667Context: repeal of Royal Decree 229/2006 and new installation and activity rules; no express repeal of Royal Decree 451/2020.
BOE-A-2024-25205New self-protection framework: paragraph four ends application of Royal Decree 393/2007 from 10 October 2026; paragraph five makes the agreement effective from 11 October 2026. It does not change the recorded wording of Article 14.
BOE-A-2026-21144Text versions of the selected OSH provisions
| Publication | Effective date | Official reference | Affected provisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27/04/2020 | 28/04/2020 | BOE-A-2020-4667 | Article 1, Article 4, Article 8, Article 9, Article 14, Article 15, Article 17, Additional provision first |
Transitional provisions and application notes
The Prevention Act and its implementing rules continue to apply. These sector rules do not replace job risk assessment, prevention information and training or the coordination required in each case.
Additional provision firstArticle 14 refers to Royal Decree 393/2007 or its replacement. It must be read with the new self-protection framework published on 10 October 2026: the agreement ends application of the former rules from publication and provides for adaptation of existing plans. This is not a textual amendment of Royal Decree 451/2020.
Article 14This decree’s amendment of Royal Decree 229/2006 is now historical because that receiving instrument was repealed in 2024. Royal Decree 451/2020 retains its own orphan-source rules; repeal of the instrument it amended does not imply its own repeal.
Final provision first
Official BOE legal relationships
This record covers the history of the selected occupational safety and health provisions. The official analysis also provides the relationships affecting other subjects in the legislation.
Official BOE legal relationships
