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Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations (SOR/2000-207)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2015-03-13. Previous Versions

General Obligations (continued)

Transfers

  •  (1) Every licensee who transfers a radiation device shall provide the transferee with the instructions referred to in the radiation device certificate for dealing with accidents, including fires and spills.

  • (2) A licensee who transfers a sealed source or a nuclear substance as shielding shall provide the transferee with a record of the most recent leak test conducted in accordance with section 18.

Radiation Survey Meters

 No person shall use, for the purpose of the Act, the regulations made under the Act or an order or a licence, a radiation survey meter that has not been calibrated within the 12 months preceding its use.

Accidents

 Where a radiation device is involved in an accident or is subjected to conditions other than those in which it is designed to operate, the licensee shall discontinue using it until the licensee performs a test or an inspection which establishes that it is functioning properly.

Labelling for Field Operations

 No person shall use a radiation device in field operations unless the device has securely attached to it a durable, readily visible and legible label that sets out the name or job title and the telephone number of a person who can initiate the accident procedure referred to in the licence that has been issued in respect of the device and who can be contacted 24 hours a day.

Posting of Signs

 Every licensee who is required under section 21 of the Radiation Protection Regulations to post a sign shall

  • (a) post and keep posted, in a visible location at the place where the radioactive nuclear substance is used or stored, a durable and legible sign that indicates the name or job title and the telephone number of a person who can initiate any required emergency procedure and who can be contacted 24 hours a day; and

  • (b) post and keep posted, in a visible location at every personnel access opening to any equipment fitted with a radiation device, a durable and legible sign that bears

    • (i) the radiation warning symbol set out in Schedule 3 to the Radiation Protection Regulations and the words “RAYONNEMENT — DANGER — RADIATION”, and

    • (ii) the requirement to follow the personnel entry procedures required by the licence.

  • SOR/2008-119, s. 30

Exposure Devices

Requirement for Operators

 No person other than a certified exposure device operator, or a trainee who is acting under the direct supervision and continuous observation of a certified exposure device operator, shall operate an exposure device.

Application for Certification of Operator

 The Commission or a designated officer authorized under paragraph 37(2)(b) of the Act may certify a person as an exposure device operator after receiving an application that includes the following information:

  • (a) the person’s name and business address;

  • (b) the person’s training and experience; and

  • (c) evidence of the successful completion by the person of an examination recognized by the Commission.

  • SOR/2008-119, s. 31

Refusal to Certify

  •  (1) The Commission or a designated officer authorized under paragraph 37(2)(b) of the Act shall notify a person who has applied for certification as an exposure device operator of a proposed decision not to certify the person, as well as the basis for the proposed decision, at least 30 days before refusing to certify the person.

  • (2) The notice shall include a description of the person’s right to be provided with an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the procedure referred to in section 28.

Decertification

  •  (1) The Commission or a designated officer authorized under paragraph 37(2)(b) of the Act shall notify a certified exposure device operator of a proposed decision to decertify the operator, as well as the basis for the proposed decision, at least 30 days before decertifying that operator.

  • (2) The notice shall include a description of the certified exposure device operator’s right to be provided with an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the procedure referred to in section 28.

Opportunity To Be Heard

  •  (1) Where a person referred to in section 26 or a certified exposure device operator referred to in section 27 has received a notice and has requested, within 30 days after the date of receipt of the notice, an opportunity to be heard either orally or in writing, the person or the operator shall be provided with such an opportunity in accordance with the request.

  • (2) On completion of a hearing held in accordance with subsection (1), the person or the certified exposure device operator who requested an opportunity to be heard shall be notified of the decision and the reasons for it.

  • (3) Where neither a person referred to in section 26 nor a certified exposure device operator referred to in section 27 requests an opportunity to be heard within the period referred to in subsection (1), they shall be notified of the decision and the reasons for it.

Surrender of Certificate

 A certified exposure device operator, on being notified of a decision to decertify in accordance with subsection 28(2) or (3), shall immediately surrender to the Commission the certificate that was issued to the operator.

Obligations of Licensees

  •  (1) Every licensee who possesses, uses or produces an exposure device shall

    • (a) ensure that there is affixed securely to the exposure device, by means of metal fasteners, a durable steel or brass tag that is readily visible and legibly inscribed with the name, quantity in becquerels, date of measurement of that quantity and form of the nuclear substance contained in the exposure device;

    • (b) lock the exposure device and keep it locked when it is not being used; and

    • (c) return a dosimeter referred to in paragraph (3)(c) to the dosimetry service that issued the dosimeter, within 10 days after the end of the period referred to in subsection 31(2).

  • (2) Every licensee who becomes aware of any of the following situations shall notify the Commission immediately of the location and circumstances of the situation and of any action that the licensee has taken or proposes to take with respect to it:

    • (a) the exposure device or the sealed source assembly is lost, stolen or damaged to an extent that could impair its normal use;

    • (b) the exposure device has a radiation dose rate of more than 2 mSv per hour on any part of its surface when the sealed source assembly is in the shielded position;

    • (c) the sealed source assembly is separated from the exposure device when the latter is not being serviced; or

    • (d) the sealed source assembly fails to return to the shielded position inside the exposure device.

  • (3) Every licensee who authorizes a person to operate an exposure device shall provide the person with

    • (a) a radiation survey meter that

      • (i) is capable of measuring a dose rate of gamma radiation from the sealed source of between 20 µSv and 100 mSv per hour, and

      • (ii) indicates that the power level of its batteries is sufficient for its operation;

    • (b) if an external sealed source assembly guide tube is to be used,

      • (i) material that can be used to attenuate, by a factor of at least 100, the radiation from the sealed source,

      • (ii) tools that can sever from the exposure device the tube and cable to which the sealed source assembly is attached, and

      • (iii) tongs with a shaft at least 1.5 m long that can handle the sealed source assembly;

    • (c) a dosimeter that

      • (i) has been issued by a licensed dosimetry service,

      • (ii) has not been used by another person since its last reading, and

      • (iii) is designed so that it can be worn on the trunk of the body;

    • (d) a dosimeter that

      • (i) has direct-reading display capability,

      • (ii) is of a type suitable for recording any dose of radiation that the person is likely to receive as a result of the operation of the exposure device,

      • (iii) has been calibrated or had its calibration verified, within the 12-month period prior to being provided, to an accuracy within 20 per cent of the true dose of radiation, and

      • (iv) is designed so that it can be worn on the trunk of the body;

    • (e) a dosimeter that

      • (i) is of a type suitable for recording any dose of radiation that the person is likely to receive as a result of the operation of the exposure device,

      • (ii) emits an audible warning signal when the radiation dose rate reaches or exceeds 5 mSv per hour or when the total dose of radiation reaches or exceeds 2 mSv, or emits an audible warning signal that increases proportionally to the radiation dose rate,

      • (iii) is designed to prevent an unintentional change in the radiation dose rate or total dose of radiation at which the dosimeter will emit an audible warning signal,

      • (iv) has been calibrated or had its calibration verified, within the 12-month period prior to being provided, to an accuracy within 20 per cent of the true dose of radiation, and

      • (v) is designed so that it can be worn on the trunk of the body;

    • (f) a sufficient number of durable and legible signs that bear the radiation warning symbol set out in Schedule 3 to the Radiation Protection Regulations and the words “RAYONNEMENT — DANGER — RADIATION” to enable the person to comply with paragraph 31(1)(k); and

    • (g) a sufficient number of forms to enable the person to keep the records referred to in paragraph 31(1)(e) and section 37.

  • (4) No licensee shall authorize a person to operate an exposure device that

    • (a) does not appear to be functioning normally; or

    • (b) has a radiation dose rate of more than 2 mSv per hour on any part of its surface.

  • (5) Every licensee who authorizes a person to remove a sealed source from or insert a sealed source into an exposure device shall provide the person with a written authorization signed by the licensee.

  • (6) Every licensee shall limit the dose of radiation received by a person, other than a nuclear energy worker, as a result of the possession or use of an exposure device to 0.1 mSv per week and 0.5 mSv per year.

  • (7) No licensee shall authorize any person to respond to any of the following situations unless the person has received specialized training in the safety, regulatory and technical requirements for dealing with those situations or has received training in the safety, regulatory and technical requirements for dealing with those situations and is acting under the guidance of a person who has received the specialized training:

    • (a) the exposure device or the sealed source assembly is damaged to an extent that could impair its normal use;

    • (b) the exposure device has a radiation dose rate of more than 2 mSv per hour on any part of its surface when the sealed source assembly is in the shielded position;

    • (c) the sealed source assembly is separated from the exposure device when the latter is not being serviced; or

    • (d) the sealed source assembly fails to return to the shielded position inside the exposure device.

  • SOR/2008-119, s. 32

Obligations of Operators

  •  (1) Every person who operates an exposure device shall

    • (a) use a radiation survey meter that

      • (i) is capable of measuring a dose rate of gamma radiation from the sealed source of between 20 µSv and 100 mSv per hour, and

      • (ii) indicates that the power level of its batteries is sufficient for its operation;

    • (b) when an external sealed source assembly guide tube is being used, have immediately available the following items:

      • (i) material that can be used to attenuate, by a factor of at least 100, the radiation from the sealed source,

      • (ii) tools that can sever from the exposure device the tube and cable to which the sealed source assembly is attached, and

      • (iii) tongs with a shaft at least 1.5 m long that can handle the sealed source assembly;

    • (c) wear on the trunk of the body a dosimeter that

      • (i) has been issued by a licensed dosimetry service, and

      • (ii) has not been used by another person since its last reading;

    • (d) wear on the trunk of the body a dosimeter that

      • (i) has direct-reading display capability,

      • (ii) is of a type suitable for recording any dose of radiation that the person is likely to receive as a result of the operation of the exposure device, and

      • (iii) has been calibrated or had its calibration verified within the 12-month period prior to wearing, to an accuracy within 20 per cent of the true dose of radiation;

    • (e) keep a record of the dose of radiation received by the person for each day the person operates the exposure device, as indicated by the dosimeter referred to in paragraph (d);

    • (f) wear on the trunk of the body a dosimeter that

      • (i) is of a type suitable for recording any dose of radiation that the person is likely to receive as a result of the operation of the exposure device,

      • (ii) emits an audible warning signal when the radiation dose rate reaches or exceeds 5 mSv per hour or when the total dose of radiation reaches or exceeds 2 mSv, or emits an audible warning signal that increases proportionally to the radiation dose rate,

      • (iii) is designed to prevent an unintentional change in the radiation dose rate or total dose of radiation at which the dosimeter will emit an audible warning signal, and

      • (iv) has been calibrated or had its calibration verified within the 12-month period prior to wearing, to an accuracy within 20 per cent of the true dose of radiation;

    • (g) examine the sealed source assembly coupling and guide tube, the locking mechanism, the cranking device, the drive cable and the pneumatic pump of the exposure device immediately before operating the device to ensure that the device is functioning within the manufacturer’s specifications;

    • (h) after each attempt to move the sealed source assembly to the shielded position inside the exposure device, use a radiation survey meter to determine that the sealed source assembly is in the shielded position;

    • (i) limit the dose of radiation received by any person, other than a nuclear energy worker, as a result of the possession or use of the exposure device to 0.1 mSv per week and 0.5 mSv per year;

    • (j) place persons or erect barriers to prevent entry into any area within which the radiation dose rate is greater than 0.1 mSv per hour as a result of the possession or use of the exposure device;

    • (k) post a sufficient number of durable and legible signs that bear the radiation warning symbol set out in Schedule 3 to the Radiation Protection Regulations and the words “RAYONNEMENT — DANGER — RADIATION”, to prevent entry into any area within which the radiation dose rate is greater than 0.1 mSv per hour as a result of the possession or use of the exposure device;

    • (l) lock the exposure device when it is not being operated; and

    • (m) where the person becomes aware of any of the following situations, immediately report to the licensee the location and circumstances of the situation and any action that the person has taken or proposes to take with respect to it:

      • (i) the exposure device or the sealed source assembly is lost, stolen or damaged to an extent that could impair its normal use,

      • (ii) the exposure device has a radiation dose rate of more than 2 mSv per hour on any part of its surface when the sealed source assembly is in the shielded position,

      • (iii) the sealed source assembly is separated from the exposure device when the latter is not being serviced, or

      • (iv) a failure to return the sealed source assembly to the shielded position inside the exposure device.

  • (2) Every person who has been provided with a dosimeter referred to in paragraph 30(3)(c) by a licensee shall return the dosimeter to the licensee at the end of the 15-day period beginning on the first day that the person wore the dosimeter.

  • (3) Every person who keeps a record referred to in paragraph (1)(e) shall submit the record to the licensee at the end of each 15-day period, the first of which begins on the first day that the person operated the exposure device.

  • (4) No person shall operate an exposure device that

    • (a) does not appear to be functioning normally; or

    • (b) has a radiation dose rate of more than 2 mSv per hour on any part of its surface.

  • (5) Every person operating an exposure device shall, during each work shift, ensure that the dose of radiation accumulated does not exceed 2 mSv, and if the dose exceeds 2 mSv, the person shall stop work immediately and notify the licensee at the earliest opportunity.

  • (6) No person shall respond to any of the following situations unless the person has received specialized training in the safety, regulatory and technical requirements for dealing with those situations or has received training in the safety, regulatory and technical requirements for dealing with those situations and is acting under the guidance of a person who has received the specialized training:

    • (a) the exposure device or the sealed source assembly is damaged to an extent that could impair its normal use;

    • (b) the exposure device has a radiation dose rate of more than 2 mSv per hour on any part of its surface when the sealed source assembly is in the shielded position;

    • (c) the sealed source assembly is separated from the exposure device when the latter is not being serviced; or

    • (d) the sealed source assembly fails to return to the shielded position inside the exposure device.

  • SOR/2008-119, s. 33
 

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