Radiation

The Radiation Health and Safety Regulations, 2024 will come into force on August 8, 2024. The updated regulations aim to align regulatory requirements in Saskatchewan with current best practices, reduce red tape to stakeholders and better harmonize with other jurisdictions across Canada. Prior to the approval of the updated regulations, the Government of Saskatchewan sought feedback from stakeholders regarding the proposed update. This consultation process was conducted from July 30 to September 30, 2021.

The following list outlines the major changes in the regulations:

• New requirement for owners of ionizing radiation equipment to inform workers of their designation as radiation workers when applicable;
• Change of responsibility for submission of Certification and Safety and Preventive Maintenance inspections from vendor/installer to the owner;
• Simplification of the safety and preventive maintenance inspection frequency for ionizing radiation equipment;
• Repeal of the registration requirement for medical ultrasound equipment;
• Repeal of annual registration fees for radiation equipment;
• Inclusion of occupational therapists to the list of qualified operators of therapeutic ultrasound equipment and class 3, 3B and 4 lasers; and
• Update to the equivalent dose limit to the lens of the eye.

To better inform workers of their risk when working with radiation, The Radiation Health and Safety Regulations, 2024 have been updated to include the requirement of owners of ionizing radiation equipment to categorize and inform workers based on their potential to exceed the annual effective dose limits for the general public. In situations where a worker has the potential to reasonably exceed the annual public effective dose limit, the owner must now designate that worker as a radiation worker. Further, the owner must inform the worker in writing.

A document will be provided that may be used as a template by owners for informing workers of their radiation worker status. With the designation, radiation workers must be monitored through a dosimetry monitoring program.

Radiation is energy transmitted in the form of waves (electromagnetic or pressure) or particles.

Radiation can be emitted by:

• X-ray equipment
• Ultrasound equipment
• Lasers
• Ultraviolet devices
• Radiofrequency/radar emitting devices
• Microwave emitting devices
• Infrared emitting devices
• Naturally occurring radioactive materials

The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Radiation Health and Safety Regulations, 2024 outline the rights and responsibilities of owners of X-ray facilities.

Rights and responsibilities include:

• providing notification to the Radiation Safety Unit within 25 business days of installing or substantially altering X-ray equipment;
• submitting a facility shielding plan to the Radiation Safety Unit before new X-ray equipment is installed in all new clinics and in clinics where substantial alterations are being made;
• systematically determining dose of workers
• ensuring all operators of equipment are formally trained and qualified;
• posting radiation hazard signage that is readable;
• having a qualified person inspect radiation equipment as specified in The Radiation Health and Safety Regulations, 2024;
• reporting inspection results to the Radiation Safety Unit within 25 days of the date of inspection; and
• limiting the radiation exposure of workers and the public.

Owners, installers and contractors of X-ray facilities are required to design and submit an X-ray shielding plan to the Radiation Safety Unit.

The Shielding Manual: Plan approval guidelines for X-ray installation guides owners, installers and contractors in the design and construction of facilities that will house X-ray equipment. The guide contains a summary of processes and requirements for submitting a plan. The guide also has links to information and checklists required for the installation of lead shielding.

A complete list of the checklists and forms is also available on the Publications Centre.

Please allow at least two weeks for the plan approval submission to be processed and approved. Establishment or alteration of an X-ray installation can only proceed after a radiation health officer has provided written approval.

Owners, installers and contractors of X-ray facilities must provide the Radiation Safety Unit with notification when installing, substantially altering or inspecting X-ray equipment.

X-ray Registration

Owners of X-ray equipment, are required to provide the Radiation Safety Unit with details of their equipment using the X-ray Registration Form. This form can be used to register new equipment, de-register old equipment or update equipment information already registered. The form must be submitted within 25 business days of installation or substantial alteration to the equipment.

Safety and Preventive Maintenance

Owners of medical, chiropractic, dental, and veterinary x-ray equipment are required to arrange for a safety and preventive maintenance inspection. The inspection must be completed by a journeyperson holding a valid licence.

The results of all testing must be submitted to the Radiation Safety Unit within 25 days of the inspection. The following forms may be used for submitting intraoral, panoramic, Cone Beam CT, fluoroscopic and general radiography results:

• Dental Safety and Preventive Maintenance Inspection Report - Intraoral
• Dental Safety and Preventive Maintenance Inspection Report - Panoramic - Conebeam CT
• Medical Safety Preventive Maintenance Form - Fluoroscopic
• Medical Safety Preventive Maintenance Form - General Radiographic

For all other types of equipment submit maintenance forms provided by the manufacturer.

The minimum number of inspections per year is dependent on the type of equipment and is defined in section 14 of the regulations.

The Radiation Safety Unit helps ensure that owners and operators of radiation equipment and the public are not exposed to unnecessary amounts of radiation.

The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety also provide training and resource materials related to radiation safety in the workplace.