Regulatory Action - Western Inspection Ltd.
Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and associated regulations, various levels of regulatory action can be taken by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment.
2013
Order to Western Inspection Ltd.
On April 12, 2013, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced that on April 5 it had issued an order to Western Inspection Ltd.
Western Inspection Ltd. is a company based in Calgary, Alberta, that provides testing services to the industrial sector. The company currently holds a CNSC licence authorizing the possession and use of nuclear substances contained in industrial radiography exposure devices, for the purpose of materials testing.
The order was issued after Western Inspection Ltd. failed to safely conduct radiography operations involving exposure devices. The company’s actions were not in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, nor with the conditions of its CNSC licence, and resulted in increased risk to the health and safety of persons. Specifically, Western Inspection Ltd. failed to conduct the retrieval of a radioactive sealed source from one of its damaged exposure devices in a safe manner consistent with regulatory requirements; this failure caused undue radiation exposure to its workers.
The order requires Western Inspection Ltd. to immediately cease all industrial radiography operations and return all of its exposure devices to secure storage. The company must provide its workers with training on the conduct of radiography operations to the satisfaction of the CNSC, and must also provide the CNSC with measures the company will take to prevent the reoccurrence of similar unsafe operations.
These measures are required by the CNSC in order to protect the health and safety of workers, the Canadian public and the environment.
2012
February 17, 2012
Update to regulatory action issued to Western Inspection Ltd.
On February 17, 2012, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) confirmed that Western Inspection Ltd. has complied with all the terms and conditions of the order issued to this company on January 12. The corrective measures implemented by Western Inspection Ltd. were reviewed and found satisfactory by CNSC staff
January 18, 2012
Order to Western Inspection Ltd.
On January 18, 2012, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced it issued an order to Western Inspection Ltd., on January 12.
Western Inspection Ltd., located in Surrey, British Columbia, provides non-destructive testing services to various industries. The company currently holds a CNSC licence to possess nuclear substances contained in industrial radiography exposure devices, for the purpose of materials testing.
The order was issued following CNSC inspections performed on January 10 and 11, 2012. The inspections revealed that the company does not have adequate measures in place to protect workers against radiation exposure. The order requires Western Inspection Ltd. to immediately cease the usage of exposure devices at its Surrey location until it can demonstrate that it has implemented adequate procedures to control radiation exposure.
These measures are required by the CNSC, in order to protect the health and safety of workers, the Canadian public and the environment.
Read the order (January 18 2012 Order to Western Inspection Ltd.) (PDF)
2011
Update to regulatory action issued on April 14, 2011 to Western Inspection Ltd.
On June 3, 2011, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) confirmed that Western Inspection Ltd. has complied with all the terms and conditions of the order issued to this company on April 14, 2011 and amended on May 24, 2011. The amendments to the order required the company to submit to the CNSC a training program action plan, as well as the results of a 1-year audit program. The corrective measures implemented by Western Inspection Ltd. were reviewed and found satisfactory by CNSC staff.
Order to Western Inspection Ltd.
On April 20, 2011, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced that it has issued an order to Western Inspection Ltd.
The order, issued April 14, 2011, requires the company to remove a certified exposure device operator (CEDO) from all operations involving nuclear substances until the company can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the CNSC, that the operator no longer presents a risk to the health and safety of persons.
The order was issued because the CEDO performed radiography without properly posting radiation warning signs in the workplace and failed to use a survey meter or provide the inspector with complete documentation associated with the activities being performed. The inspection was conducted at a welding and fabrication shop in Calgary, Alberta.
Read the order (April 20 2011 Order to Western Inspection Ltd.) (PDF)