Nordion’s Radiation Protection Program
We maintain a Radiation Protection Program in accordance with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Radiation Protection Regulations. The program ensures that contamination levels and radiation doses received by individuals are monitored, controlled and maintained as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The program encompasses the following.
Application of ALARA / Worker Dose Control
All employees who work in Nordion’s licensed Class 1B nuclear facility are classified as Nuclear Energy Workers (NEWs). Some employees work regularly in the licensed nuclear facility (Active Area Personnel) while others require less frequent access (Non-Active Area Personnel).
The CNSC has set occupational radiation exposure limits for NEWs at 50 mSv of ionizing radiation exposure over a 1-year period and 100 mSv over a 5-year period.
Annually, Nordion establishes ALARA objectives with the goal to maintain radiation doses as per the ALARA principle and well below the CNSC regulatory dose limits. Recent results are provided in our Annual Compliance Report.