Health Canada Safety Code 35: Awareness of the Impacts for Diagnostic Radiology in Canada

• Published in: Canadian Association of Radiologists journal Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 6 - 9
• Main Authors: Bjarnason, Thorarin A., PhD, Thakur, Yogesh, PhD, Aldrich, John E., PhD, FCCPM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-02-2013; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Canada; Diagnostic imaging; Diagnostic Imaging - standards; Diagnostic tests; Humans; Internationality; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Radiation; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Injuries - prevention & control; Radiation Protection - standards; Radiology; Radiology - standards; Safety Code 35; Safety Management; Safety standards; X-rays; Canada; Diagnostic imaging; Safety Code 35; X-rays
• ISSN: 0846-5371; 1488-2361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carj.2011.12.009

Abstract Health Canada Safety Code 35 brings Canada's diagnostic imaging radiation output and protection standards to an international level. This Safety Code is comprehensive and will have broad implications for most health care facilities. This Safety Code outlines quality control procedures that will ultimately reduce patient dose while providing the best quality diagnostic images, all within a safe working environment. However, the Safety Code has some important omissions and errors of which radiologists should be aware, especially if they act as radiation safety officers. We hope that highlighting these issues will be the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between Health Canada, radiologists, medical physicists, and technologists that will not only bring awareness of Safety Code 35 but will provide a basis for updating, correcting, and improving future revisions of the Safety Code.