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

Obligations of Operators

• 31 (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.

Appointment of Supervisors of Trainees

• 32 (1) A licensee may appoint a certified exposure device operator to supervise a trainee in the operation of an exposure device, if

  • (a) the certified exposure device operator has the qualifications, training and experience necessary to supervise a trainee in the safe operation of the exposure device;

  • (b) the licensee requests the certified exposure device operator, in accordance with subsection (2), to accept the appointment; and

  • (c) the certified exposure device operator accepts the appointment in writing.

• (2) A request referred to in paragraph (1)(b) shall be made in writing and shall

  • (a) state the name of the trainee;

  • (b) state the brand name and model number of the exposure device;

  • (c) direct the attention of the certified exposure device operator to this section and to section 33; and

  • (d) include a copy of the licence to use the exposure device.

Obligations of Supervisors of Trainees

• 33 (1) No certified exposure device operator who is supervising a trainee in the operation of an exposure device shall permit the trainee to operate the device unless the trainee has sufficient knowledge to safely operate it.

• (2) Every certified exposure device operator who is supervising a trainee in the operation of an exposure device shall directly supervise and continuously observe the trainee while the trainee is operating the device.

Replacement of Sealed Source

• 34 (1) Every person who removes a sealed source from or inserts a sealed source into an exposure device shall possess a written authorization to do so, signed by the licensee who possesses, uses, produces or services the exposure device.

• (2) Immediately after a person removes a sealed source from or inserts a sealed source into an exposure device, the person shall measure

  • (a) the radiation dose rate on each accessible surface of the exposure device; and

  • (b) the dose of radiation received by persons who were exposed to radiation during the removal or insertion, using a dosimeter referred to in paragraph 30(3)(d).

• (3) Every person who removes a sealed source from or inserts a sealed source into an exposure device shall record the radiation dose rates and doses of radiation referred to in subsection (2) and report them to the licensee who possesses or uses the exposure device.

Tracer Studies

• 35 (1) Every licensee who uses more than 2 GBq of a nuclear substance that is not a sealed source for the purpose of conducting a tracer or subsurface tracer study shall notify the Commission before conducting the study.

• (2) Every licensee shall, within 60 days after using a nuclear substance referred to in subsection (1) for the purpose of conducting a tracer or subsurface tracer study, file with the Commission a report that includes

  • (a) the date and location of the study;

  • (b) the name, quantity in becquerels and form of the nuclear substance used in the study;

  • (c) the name of the person for whom the study was conducted;

  • (d) the names of all workers who handled the nuclear substance and the dosimeter readings and bioassay results for those workers;

  • (e) a description of any unusual occurrence;

  • (f) a description of the disposition of any unused nuclear substance; and

  • (g) the specific activity of the nuclear substance upon entering and leaving the system studied and a description of the disposition of the nuclear substance.

Records to Be Kept and Retained

Nuclear Substances

• 36 (1) Every licensee shall keep the following records:

  • (a) a record of the following information in respect of any nuclear substance in the licensee’s possession that is referred to in the licence:

    • (i) the name, quantity, form and location of the nuclear substance,

    • (ii) where the nuclear substance is a sealed source, the model and serial number of the source,

    • (iii) where the nuclear substance is contained in a radiation device, the model and serial number of the device,

    • (iv) the quantity of the nuclear substance used, and

    • (v) the manner in which the nuclear substance was used;

  • (b) a record of the name of each worker who uses or handles a nuclear substance;

  • (c) a record of any transfer, receipt, disposal or abandonment of a nuclear substance, including

    • (i) the date of the transfer, receipt, disposal or abandonment,

    • (ii) the name and address of the supplier or the recipient,

    • (iii) the number of the licence of the recipient,

    • (iv) the name, quantity and form of the nuclear substance transferred, received, disposed of or abandoned,

    • (v) where the nuclear substance is a sealed source, the model and serial number of the source, and

    • (vi) where the nuclear substance is contained in a radiation device, the model and serial number of the device;

  • (d) a record of the training received by each worker; and

  • (e) a record of every inspection, measurement, test or servicing performed by the licensee in accordance with the Act, the regulations made under the Act or the licence in respect of any radiation device containing a nuclear substance that the licensee is authorized by the licence to possess.

• (1.1) Every licensee who holds a licence to service radiation devices shall keep a record of the following information in respect of each servicing performed on any radiation device containing a nuclear substance that another licensee, by their licence, is authorized to possess, including:

  • (a) the name and address of the client for whom the servicing was performed;

  • (b) the licence number of the client for whom the servicing was performed;

  • (c) the brand name, model number and serial number of the radiation device;

  • (d) the name, quantity and date of measurement of the nuclear substance contained in the radiation device; and

  • (e) a summary of the work and the date on which the servicing was performed.

• (2) Every licensee shall retain a record referred to in paragraph (1)(d) for the period ending three years after the termination of employment of the worker.

• (3) Every person who is required to keep a record referred to in paragraph (1)(e) or subsection (1.1) shall retain the record for the period ending three years after the earlier of the expiry date and the date of revocation, if any, of the licence.

• (4) Every licensee shall keep a record of each leak test conducted on a sealed source or on shielding in accordance with section 18 and that person shall retain the record for the period ending three years after the date on which it is conducted.