Requirements for the Safe Use of Baggage X-Ray Inspection Systems - Safety Code 29

Foreword

A baggage x-ray inspection system is a machine that is specifically designed to generate x-rays in the low-to-medium keV energy region for use in security screening operations. This Safety Code provides requirements and guidance necessary to ensure that the radiation risks associated with baggage x-ray systems remain negli-gibly low (i.e., the same as the risks from unavoidable, natural background radiation levels). This approach is in accordance with the 1990 International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) objectives^{(1 )} to prevent the occurrence of deterministic effects (those for which the severity of a biological effect increases with dose and for which a threshold may occur) and to reduce the incidence of stochastic (random) biological effects to acceptable levels.

This Safety Code is prepared under authority of Treasury Board Standards^{(2 )}, is referenced in Canada Labour Code Part II^{(3 )}, and is directed to personnel in facilities under federal jurisdiction. This publication is aimed at four target groups:

• system owners (or administrators);
• system operators;
• maintenance personnel; and
• radiation safety personnel (analysts and inspectors as defined in the RED Act).

This publication is intended to reduce and possibly eliminate any adverse biological health effects of radiation exposure that may arise from baggage x-ray inspection systems. This Safety Code outlines specific responsibilities for the system owner, operator and maintenance personnel, and provides information on safe guidelines and procedures. This publication supersedes Safety Code 21 "Recommended safety procedures for the selection, installation and use of baggage inspection x-ray equipment"^{(4 )}.

This document may be adopted for use elsewhere. Facilities under provincial jurisdiction should consult the appropriate regulatory authority provided in the Appendix because of differences in provincial statutes and requirements.

This publication was prepared by H.P. Maharaj in accordance with the Bureau of Radiation and Medical Devices internal and external review, and approval criteria. All organizations, agencies and individuals whose comments and suggestions helped in the preparation of this publication, are gratefully acknowledged.

Interpretation or elaboration on any point in this Safety Code may be obtained from the Bureau of Radiation and Medical Devices, X-Ray Section, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1C1.