Personal Alpha Dosimetry

The Radiation Safety Institute of Canada uses world-class, patented technology in our personal alpha dosimetry (PAD) service. There is simply no better system available in Canada for monitoring the radiation exposure of individual workers from radon and thoron progeny and from long-lived radioactive dust (LLRD).

• A reliable, efficient and fully integrated personal radiation exposure monitoring system
• The PAD is lightweight, self-contained and durable - quite simply the most accurate and convenient technology available on the market
• Government certified and licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
• Best of all, every aspect of the Institute’s PAD system is backed by our world-class scientific and technical staff

Worker at Cameco Corporation's Rabbit Lake uranium mine wears a PAD while operating a remote control scoop tram. Photo courtesy of Cameco.

Originally developed in1983, the Institute’s Personal Alpha Dosimeter has become an indespensible safety tool for the uranium mining industry and to companies involved in the clean-up of radioactive waste sites. In fact, our PAD service is the only licensed radiation dosimetry service in North America capable of measuring the actual exposure of individual workers to alpha radiation from radon and thoron progeny and LLRD.

How the PAD System works

The Institute’s PAD system consists of a dosimeter head and an air sampling unit. The PAD is worn on a worker’s belt. At the end of each month, the dosimeter head is removed and replaced by a fresh head. The used head is sent to our National Laboratories in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for processing. Transport of the used heads is easy, quick and efficient.

The PAD Service includes laboratory analysis, technical support, on-site equipment, quality assurance, quality control and timely reporting of results, including early alerts. Results are sent to clients and also sent to Health Canada’s National Dose Registry (NDR) as required.