Health Canada Safety Code (HCSC) 35

Introduction

Health Canada Safety Code 35 (SC 35) - Radiation Protection in Radiology – Large Facilities was published in November 2008. It replaces Safety Code 20A with which most people in the X-ray field have become familiar over the years since it was published around 1976. Safety Code 35 aims to address this changed environment, specifically:

• The introduction of digital detectors in almost every imaging modality
• New standards from the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC)
• The monitoring and optimization of patient dose
• Newer x-ray shielding design methods based on empirical data

Not surprisingly, HCSC 35 is dramatically different from SC 20A. Firstly, it combines SC 20A and SC 31 (Radiation Protection in CT Installations), so covers all x-ray modalities except DXA and mammography. Another large change is the amount of Quality Control in SC 35 - over a quarter of the document is devoted to Quality Control.

The Diagnostic Accreditation Program is committed to provide education materials to facilitate the implementation of standards for Quality Control and Radiation Safety as introduced in HCSC35.

The DAP website will provide educational materials to assist Radiology and CT facility staff and consultant providers to meet the DAP Accreditation Standards for Quality Control and Radiation Safety. The information provided on this website will include a summary of QC procedures for Radiography (film-based, CR and DR), Radioscopy, and Computed Tomography as well as information regarding the test equipment required. Subsequent information will include sample QC templates and information regarding the testing and radiation protection requirements for new equipment.

Of note, some of the test procedures listed on this website have been modified to be more explicit and reflect the specific equipment being tested (example Y11-DR). Therefore not all test procedures on this website will link directly to the HCSC35 test procedures' numbering system.

This website will be updated in the upcoming months and will provide educational materials for radiation protection requirements such as shielding design and evaluation, patient dose, etc.   

Links 

Typical QC Test Procedures:

QC for Radiographic Systems (including DR and CR)

QC for Radioscopic Systems (including digital fluoroscopy)

QC for Computed Tomography Systems

Test Equipment for Radiology and CT Quality Control

References 

Health Canada Safety Code 35 (in pdf form for viewing or download)

AAPM Online Report 3 (Task Group 18) Assessment of Display Performance for Medical Imaging Systems (in pdf form for viewing or download)

The DAP would be happy to receive your feedback on these materials by submission using the Contact Us link.