Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

10.26 (1) Where a device that is capable of producing and emitting energy in the form of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation is used in the work place, the employer shall, if the device is referred to in subsection (2), implement the applicable document, as amended from time to time, published by the Department of National Health and Welfare, as specified in one of paragraphs (2)(a) to (k) or published by ANSI, as specified in paragraph (2)(l).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the applicable document is

• (a) in respect of radio frequency and microwave devices in the frequency range from 10 kHz to 300 GHz, Safety Code - 6, dated 1990;

• (b) in respect of X-ray equipment in medical diagnosis, Safety Code - 20A, dated 1980;

• (c) in respect of baggage inspection X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 21, dated 1978;

• (d) in respect of dental X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 22, dated 1980;

• (e) in respect of ultrasound equipment, Safety Code - 23, dated 1989, and Safety Code - 24, dated 1990;

• (f) in respect of short-wave diathermy equipment, Safety Code - 25, dated 1983;

• (g) in respect of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy equipment, Safety Code - 26, dated 1987;

• (h) in respect of industrial X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 27, dated 1987;

• (i) in respect of veterinary X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 28, dated 1991;

• (j) in respect of demonstration-type discharge devices, Recommended Safety Procedures for the Selection and Use of Demonstration-Type Discharge Devices in Schools, dated 1979;

• (k) in respect of dielectric (RF) heaters, Dielectric (RF) Heaters Guidelines for Limiting Radio-Frequency Exposure, dated 1980; and

• (l) in respect of lasers, ANSI Standard ANSI Z136.1-1986, American National Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers, dated 1986, including its appendices with the exception of Appendix D.

(3) If an employee works on or near a device that may emit nuclear energy, the employer shall ensure that the exposure of the employee to nuclear energy does not exceed the radiation dose limits set out in the Radiation Protection Regulations.

(4) No employee, other than a nuclear energy worker as defined in section 2 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, shall be exposed in the course of any year to a concentration of radon that on average, over the year, is higher than 800 Bq/m³.