X-ray safety program

Specific topics, standard procedures and guidelines

• X-Ray User Registration Form (PDF, 120KB)
• University of Ottawa Permit Application Form (PDF, 116KB) 
  • Inspection Form (PDF, 196KB)
  • Safety Code 6 - Health Canada's Radiofrequency Exposure Guidelines
  • Safety Code 32 - Safety Requirements and Guidance for Analytical X-Ray Equipment

X-ray training

• Web Based training (PDF, 1.6MB)
• X-ray Diffraction Hazards Video (Courtesy of HHMI)

Regulatory

• Ontario, Ministry of Labour
• Radiation Emitting Devices Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. R-1)
• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Occupational Health and Safety Act  X-Ray Safety (Regulation 861)

MOL regulatory requirements

The Ministry of Labour regulations apply(1) to every owner, employer, supervisor and worker at a workplace where:

• An X-ray machine* is used or
• An X-ray source**, that is not an X-ray machine is present or used, if the X-ray source is capable of producing an air kerma rate greater than 1.0 microGray/hour at any accessible point outside its surface

*X-ray machine = electrically powered device, the principal purpose of which is the production of X-rays; ** X-ray source = any device of that portion of any device, that emits X-ray whether or not the device is an X-ray machine

(1) Unless it is licensable under the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

OCRO role

The Office of the Chief Risk Officer is to facilitate the users community with the regulatory aspects associated with the X-ray equipment by providing the following:

• Register the equipment with MOL
• Ensure that the units believed not to meet the registration criteria have a certificate of shielding from the manufacturer and confirm with MOL that no further action is required
• Keep documents on file : (i) application of registration, (ii) certificate of shielding so that is available for MOL review and (iii) manage the X-ray safety program and implement to ensure compliance with MOL

PI role

• Inform of intent of purchase or possession of an X-ray unit by submitting the “Notice of Intent” (see below)
• Submit the documentation to OCRO: i) application for a new permit (see form below) or ii) certificate of shielding
• Comply with the University of Ottawa X-ray Safety Program and associated regulations
• Notice of Intent to Purchase or Possess Form (PDF, 148KB)
• University of Ottawa Permit Application Form (PDF, 116KB)

For the purpose of radiation protection, individuals may be classified in one of two groups: radiation worker or member of the public. The former group refers to individuals exposed to ionizing radiation during the course of their work, excluding medical and natural background ionizing radiation exposures. The latter group refers to those individuals who are not radiation workers. The following table summarizes the 1991 ICRP recommended dose equivalent limits for ionizing radiation.

Maximum permissible dose equivalent, limits in a year

• These limits are intended to prevent deterministic effects by keeping doses below the relevant threshold, and to reduce the incidence of stochastic effects to acceptable levels by demanding that all reasonable steps be taken to lower doses. For further details, consult the source ICRP 1991

• For women who are or may be pregnant, the fetus must be protected from radiation exposure once pregnancy has been diagnosed. For the remainder of the pregnancy, the dose equivalent limit from radiation sources external to the body is 2 mSv applied to the surface of the abdomen, and the limit for radionuclides taken internally by the body is 1/20th of the allowable annual intake. If a woman is exposed to both internal and external sources, both limits apply separately and the total limit shall not exceed 1 mSv (since the fetus is considered a member of the public).
• While dose equivalents up to 50 mSv may be permitted in a single year for special circumstances, a total limit of 100 mSv over a five-year period is recommended by the ICRP. This translates into an average annual limit of 20 mSv y^-1.