Federal Provincial Territorial Radiation Protection Committee

Welcome to the Federal Provincial Territorial Radiation Protection Committee (FPTRPC) web pages. The FPTRPC was created to advance the development and harmonization of practices and standards for radiation protection within Federal, Provincial and Territorial jurisdictions, and to communicate these to the people of Canada.

The documents reflected on the FPTRPC website are not a reflection of Health Canada, but representation of Federal Provincial Territorial membership.

• Information about the FPTRPC
• Information about FPTRPC Activities
• FPTRPC Documents and Position Statements

Information about the FPTRPC

Our Mission

Our mission is to advance the development and harmonization of practices and standards for radiation protection within Federal, Provincial and Territorial jurisdictions.

Our Mandate

An intergovernmental Committee established to support Federal, Provincial and Territorial radiation protection agencies in their respective mandates by:

• providing a national focus for government radiation protection agencies;
• promoting the harmonization of radiation health and safety programs;
• identifying emerging issues in radiation protection and recommending actions to the appropriate jurisdictions;
• developing and harmonizing radiation protection standards, guidelines and input for legislation;
• providing a forum for representatives of the provinces and territories, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Department of National Defence, Health Canada and other federal departments/agencies;
• considering requests from other governmental committees and agencies concerned with health, safety and environmental issues and liaising regularly with such committees and agencies.

To fulfill its mandate, the Committee may establish subcommittees and working groups.

Our Membership

The Committee shall consist of one delegate from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), one delegate from Health Canada, one delegate from the Department of National Defence, and one delegate from each Province or Territory, with the exception that Ontario may have two delegates.

The delegates should be those individuals directly responsible for radiation protection within their respective jurisdictions. The Chair may also invite observers and resource personnel to attend meetings as necessary.

• Provincial and Territorial Membership
• Federal Members
• Sub-Committees/Working Groups/Representatives

Our Partners and Stakeholders

The Committee operates under the auspices of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Health Canada and the Provinces and Territories. In this partnership, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Health Canada fund travel expenses, while the Provinces and Territories assume responsibility for accommodation and meals.

• Partners and Stakeholders

Reporting

The delegates are responsible for reporting on the transactions of the Committee to their respective agencies.

Meeting Frequency

There will be at least one annual face-to-face meeting, normally held in Ottawa. The meeting will include at least one session chaired by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, one by Health Canada and a session for the Provincial/Territorial delegates.

Role of delegates

All delegates should come prepared to represent their respective governments and constituents, and be responsible for keeping their governments informed of decisions made. Delegates must also be prepared to contribute time, effort and resources to any subcommittees, working groups or review groups that the Committee may establish.

Quorum

A minimum of seven (7) delegates shall constitute a quorum.

Voting

Decisions for which a vote is required shall be determined by a simple majority of delegates present, with each Federal, Provincial and Territorial agency accorded one (1) vote.

Chair

Three co-chairs shall be appointed for each session. The host federal agencies will each appoint one (1) co-chair, and the Provincial/Territorial elected chair will be the other. The Provincial/Territorial chair will be elected by simple majority vote. Appointments will be for a two (2) year term and may be renewed. The co-chairs will be responsible for producing the agenda at least two weeks prior to each meeting. Official documents of the Committee will be signed by the co-chairs.

Secretariat

Secretariat services to the Committee will be provided by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Health Canada as required. All records and other documents pertaining to the official proceedings shall be distributed to the delegates by the secretariat. Draft minutes of meetings shall be distributed to all delegates within six (6) weeks after any meeting.

Information about FPTRPC Activities

• Three Year Business Plan
• Summary of Proceedings of the FPTRPC Meeting 2011

Business Activities

The FPTRPC meets annually to discuss emerging issues in radiation protection, review the progress of working groups over the past year, and to set priorities for the coming year. The meetings are held over 4 days and include training sessions, reports from a number of working groups, and presentations from the members, their organization or by external non-government organizations. This article summarizes some of the highlights of general interest from the most recent annual meeting, held in November 2011 in Ottawa.

Working Groups Subcommittees Work Assignments: 2011-2012

1. Business Plan Working Group
   
   The tasks of the Working Group are as follows:
   1. Revise the Business Plan as required to ensure it meets the needs of members regarding scope, content, suitability and completeness
   2. Identify priority items that the FPTRPC should focus on and develop a method for prioritizing its business on an on-going basis
   3. Update the Business Plan following the annual meetings of the FPTRPC
2. Canadian Naturally Occurring Radioactivity Material Working Group
   
   The current tasks of the Working Group are as follows:
   1. Prepare a draft revision of the Canadian NORM Guidelines and distribute to the Working Group and the FPTRPC for final comments and adoption. The revisions shall incorporate the revised Canadian Action Levels for Radon and address consistency with the amended Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations (PTNSR).
   2. Work with the Joint Document Working Group to develop Guidelines for the Transportation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) that are consistent with the Canadian NORM Guidelines and the PTNSR.
3. Canadian Medical Dose Working Group
   1. Develop terms of reference
4. Communications Working Group
   1. Translate and post Business Plan updates on the FPTRPC website
   2. Ensure that the information on the FPTRPC website, including hyperlinks, is current
   3. Prepare a summary of the annual FPTRPC meetings for distribution to external stakeholders
   4. Provide an overview of the web activity for the FPTRPC website (Health Canada)
5. Electromagnetic Field Working Group
   
   Currently under review.
6. Joint Documents Working Group
   
   The tasks of the Working Group are as follows:
   1. Submit Terms of Reference for review and approval by co-chairs of the FPTRPC and the FPTRPC members;
   2. Review documents dealing with radiation protection.
   3. Solicit or otherwise identify documents:
      1. of potential interest to federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions
      2. where federal, provincial and territorial input may be desirable, and
      3. where the opportunity for federal, provincial and territorial input may exist.
   4. Prioritize the production of these potential joint federal provincial territorial documents.
   5. Make recommendations to the FPTRPCfor the production ofjoint federal provincial territorial national standards, guidelines, and codes of practice, to ensure that FPTRPC input and concerns are addressed. 
   6. Identify whether additional members or other technical expertise are required to complete the mandate.
   7. Carry out related tasks as requested, by agreement with the co-chairs or as instructed by the FPTRPC in order to meet the mandate of the Working Group.
7. Mammography Working Group
   
   The tasks of the Working Group are as follows:
   1. Work with Health Canada to develop new Safety Code for mammography.
   2. Maintain and review information about QA/QC in Canada
   3. Work with partners such the Canadian Association of Radiologists and the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine to develop a QA/QC strategy.
8. Medical X-ray Utilization Working Group
   
   The tasks of the Working Group are as follows:
   1. Participation in the pan Canadian Radiation Exposure Monitoring (REM) project led by NRC and close collaboration with radiologists and all disciplines involved in diagnostic imaging towards Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) establishing guidelines for appropriate use of diagnostic imaging.
   2. The REM project aims to establish a database of medical exposure values populated form Radiological Information Systems (RIS) and other electronic records of exposures.
   3. An update of CAR’s work on development of guidelines is provided to FPTRPC.
9. Provincial Radiation Dosimetry Review Subcommittee
   
   Currently under review.
10. Radiation Standards Working Group
    
    Currently under review.
11. Radon Guidelines Implementation Working Group
    
    Currently under review.
12. Survey Instrument Working Group
    
    Inactive

Key: Member Jurisdictions:

CEA

Canadian Electricity Association

CNSC

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

DND

Department of National Defence

HC

Health Canada

IC

Industry Canada

ONH

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care

QC

Quebec

Joint FPTRPC Documents and Position Statements

• Laser Hair Removal: Safety Guidelines for Facility Owners and Operators, October 2011
• Canadian Guidelines for the Management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), 2000: currently under revision, 2011
• Federal/Provincial/Territorial Requirements for Dosimetry Services in Canada – Independent Test Specifications for Dosimetry Services: X-Radiation, November 20, 2008
• Response Statement to Public Concerns Regarding Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) from Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution Lines, November 8, 2008
• Guidelines for Making Changes to Dose-Related information in the National Dose Registry, 2006
• Guidelines for Tanning Salon Owners, Operators and Users, 2005: Currently under revision by FPT Tanning Bed Working Group
• Position Statement for the General Public on the Health Effects of Power-Frequency (60 Hz) Electric and Magnetic Fields – January 20, 2005
• Response Statement to the Issue of Power-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Childhood Leukemia – January 20, 2005
• Health Effects and Exposure Guidelines Related to Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields – An Overview Prepared by the ELF Working Group – 2005
• Solar and Artificial Ultraviolet Radiation: Health Effects and Protective Measures (Position Statement and Overview) 1999
• Responses to Public Comments on the Proposed Revision to the Radon Guideline (2006)
• Response to Peer Reviewers’ Comments on the Proposed Revision to the Radon Guideline (2006)

Supported Items

1. S-260: Making Changes to Dose-related Information Filed with the National Dose Registry (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission).
2. G-129: Keeping Radiation Exposures and Doses "As Low As Reasonably Achievable - ALARA" (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission).
3. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality - Radiological Characteristics; 2004 draft update completed and submitted to the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water.
4. Guidelines for Interventions in Nuclear Emergencies (Health Canada) -
   November 2003.
5. Canadian Mammography Quality Guidelines (Health Canada) 2002.
6. Canadian Guidelines for the Restriction of Radioactively Contaminated
   Food and Water Following a Nuclear Emergency (Health Canada) 2001.