Radiation Facility FAQs

Registration is required in the following situations:

• • Installation of equipment in a new or existing dental facility regardless of how the equipment was obtained (purchased, leased, gift), or how old the equipment is (new or resale).
  • Relocation within the facility, or to another facility.
  • Modification of the characteristics of the radiation emitted from the equipment or the protective properties of the facility. Note: shielding calculations are based in part on the occupancy of adjacent rooms. If a facility is redesigned and the walls are not altered but the occupancy changes (i.e. storage room becomes waiting room), registration of the equipment is still required.
  • Every five years after the original registration of the equipment, with a full compliance inspection.

The process to register the facility radiation equipment is as follows:

• • Order the equipment from your supplier and confirm the installation date.
  • Contact an Authorized Radiation Protection Inspection Agency to book the inspection date.*Note: This date must be within 15-days of installation and equipment cannot be used without registration.
  • The facility owner completes an ‘Application for Registration of Designated Radiation Equipment’ on the CDSA Radiation Health and Safety Program *Note: The installation date and equipment information is required to complete this form.
  • The CDSA/ADA&C Radiation Health and Safety Program will process the inspection report and application form. The CDSA will then send the facility contact email address a ‘Confirmation of Equipment’ form along with a request for proof of dosimetry. Proof of dosimetry typically consists of an exposure report or invoice for your badges.
  • Once the CDSA Radiation Health and Safety Program receives the ‘Confirmation of Equipment’ and proof of dosimetry, a registration certificate will be printed and mailed directly to the facility.
  • The facility receives the registration certificate and ensures that is it visibly displayed in the facility to comply with OHS code requirements.

Registration can only be completed by submitting the inspection report and application form to the CDSA Radiation Health and Safety Program. The process is the same for 5 year renewals, new, replaced equipment, or equipment that was moved for renovations and reinstalled.

The choice is up to the facility. The CDSA encourages you to inspect all equipment at once to stay on one (1) schedule whenever possible.

There are multiple inspectors in Northern and Southern Alberta approved by the Alberta Government. These can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/radiation-agencies.aspx

All facilities will receive a $150 invoice for the current registration period. The Radiation Health and Safety Program is run on a cost-recovery basis and is invoiced on a biennial timeline. The CSDA Council reviews this program annually and determines the cost of the program for the upcoming year.

The Occupational Health and Safety Code states in Section 291.7 (1):

“An employer must ensure that no worker operates designated radiation equipment unless a registration certificate has been issued by an authorized radiation health registration agency or by a Director for that equipment.”

A registration certificate can only be issued by the Radiation Health and Safety Program upon receipt of:

• • Completed application form.
  • Receipt of compliant inspection report from an Authorized Radiation Protection Inspection Agency:
    • If an inspection report is older than 6 months, we are unable to process it, and you will be required to have another inspection completed.

A reprint for a missing/damaged registration certificate can be requested by emailing Radiation@cdsab.ca

Any regulated member of the CDSA can own CBCT equipment. The facility owner must have a compliance inspection completed and register the equipment with the CDSA. The facility owner is also responsible for the proper installation of hardware and software, registration and operation of the unit, including education of the operators, storage of records, and a quality assurance program.

Per Health Canada ‘Safety Code 30 – Radiation Protection in Dentistry’ Section B.6.0

When X-ray equipment is considered for disposal, an assessment should be made as to whether the equipment can be refurbished and/or recycled. Communication with the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment should be made as to whether the equipment or components of the equipment can be recycled or returned. Once the decision has been made to dispose of X-ray equipment, an assessment must be made to determine if any equipment components contain hazardous materials.

An assessment should include the following:

1. Contact the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment to determine if the equipment or components of the equipment can be recycled or returned.
2. If the equipment contains any patient information, this information must be fully removed.

It is strongly recommended that disposal of X-ray equipment be delegated to an X-ray service provider that specializes in the disposal of such systems. Safe work practices during disposal must be used so that workers are not exposed to hazards.

The following disposal actions are recommended:

1. The X-ray tube window should be examined to determine whether or not it contains beryllium, and if it does, special disposal procedures must be applied since beryllium presents a toxic ingestion or inhalation hazard;
2. The transformer oil must be disposed of in accordance with any applicable federal, provincial or territorial environmental legislation and lead must be recycled accordingly;
3. To ensure that the equipment is not unsafely operated after disposal, the equipment must be made inoperable before disposing. The vacuum in the X-ray tube must be breached, and the cables that power the equipment and other electrical connections should be disconnected and disposed of separately.

Bill 47 Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act 2020 amended the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS) Act and OHS Codes to incorporate Alberta’s radiation protection laws. On December 1, 2021 the new OHS Act and OHS Codes were proclaimed and the Radiation Protection Act and Regulation were repealed.

Each facility needs to follow the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Occupational Health and Safety Code. The government of Alberta delegates authority to the CDSA to ensure all facilities are OHS complaint.

• The CDSA continues as an Authorized Radiation Health Registration Agency, designated with certain roles and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• The CDSA is no longer allowed to accept inspection reports older than 6 months.