The Expertise. The Competence. The Reputation. The Integrity. The Thoroughness. The Respect. The Price. For all these reasons.
Supertech X-ray- Your reputable source for service and quality that helps you meet WorkSafeBC OHS regulatory ionizing radiation safety standards
Update for BCCOHP1 Registrants
On 31 May 2025, the BCDA1 discontinued its role in making available an independent x-ray inspection program to its association members at reasonable cost. Meanwhile, WorkSafeBC1 OHS Regulation requirements for periodic radiation protection surveys remain unchanged. BCCOHP1 expects its Registrants to continue operation of x-ray imaging situations in conformance with those requirements.
Oral Health Professionals in BC are now welcome to call or message Supertech X-ray Services at cell (778) 889-6554 or by email at scott.broddy@supertechxray.ca to arrange Radiation Protection Surveys for their practice x-ray imaging situations, at reasonable cost.
Check the expiry date of your Certificate of Radiation Safety. According to WorkSafeBC1 OHS Regulation Guideline G7.24(a) Radiation surveys - Clarification of how often to conduct and who can conduct, for intraoral x-ray imaging equipment operating at 70 kV or less, 5 year is an acceptable period between surveys, and 3 years is the required period between surveys for x-ray imaging systems where kV settings exceeding 70 are possible.
To clarify, the new Heath Canada Safety Code 30 (2022 Edition), in its guidelines, recommends (as opposed to ‘requires’) a 3-year period between radiation protection surveys for all dental x-ray situations. WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation Guidelines continue to mention that an employer should determine the period between surveys based on factors such as listed in OHS Regulation Guideline G7.24(a). WorkSafeBC’s ‘expectation’ is that the period will not exceed 3 years but it continues to allow the EXCEPTION of a maximum 5-year period between surveys for dental intraoral imaging equipment as described above.
Veterinary Practice and Comparative Medical Research -
X-ray Radiation Safety for the Animal and Staff Matters Here….
Radiation Protection Surveys
….and Here ! All situations need to be safe when taking x-rays.
FAQs
‘should’, ‘must’, ‘shall’, ‘may’, ‘can’, ‘require’, ‘recommends’ - Are these words chosen with purpose?
Health Canada purposely chooses and defines the words ‘should’ and ‘must’ in the introductory sections of their safety codes. One can take the above additional synonyms to have the same or nearly the same meanings. The definitions do change depending on the safety code in use for a particular facility. When referring to any safety code, review those definitions within that particular safety code carefully. Differences between safety codes make sense when one carefully looks at the full ALARA definition for acceptable and optimal patient and worker radiation exposure (the foundation for all safety codes), next …
As Low As Reasonably Achievable, with economic and social factors being taken into account,
The above definition is therefore a flexible one, with the decision as to what is practical or reasonable being left up to the judgement, insight and agreement of qualified personnel within a facility, from the clinician to the associated staff that work alongside (who may seek further guidance from external qualified experts such as radiologists, qualified medical radiation physicists, OHS regulatory authorities, radiation protection surveyors).
For examples….
a) Safety Code 30 (2022 Edition) mentions that if the responsible collegial or regulatory authority has not set the period between surveys, these ‘may’ be carried out every three years.
b) In BC, WorkSafeBC OHS regulation guidance currently allows up to 5-year periods for intraoral x-ray equipment where 70 is the maximum selectable kV setting.
Is Supertech X-ray ‘certified’? (and is any other radiation protection surveyor in BC ‘certified’?).
NO! In fact, no medical x-ray imaging radiation protection survey provider or their survey activities are currently accredited, certified, endorsed, associated with, approved, preferred or recommended by any collegial, governmental, OHS regulatory authority or organization in BC.
Providers who embellish their abilities on their websites with unearned qualifications/titles such as ‘certified’ and ‘engineer’ and feign close or special relationships with related organizations with vague terms such as ‘partnered with’ and ‘medical radiation surveyors for (place name of OHS regulatory organization here)’, in an attempt to gain your business, are only reflecting their lack of trustworthiness. For instance, in B.C., only a person legally qualified to carry the initials ‘P.Eng.’ next to their name in an official capacity as a ‘professional engineer’ can say they are carrying on with their duties and responsibilities in a role of an ‘engineer’.
Can an employer carry out its own radiation protection survey? What’s the advantage?
Yes. Saving money may seem to be an advantage. However, surveys by Scott Broddy at Supertech X-ray Services cost less in the long run as he has the competence and thoroughness (which takes time) to make sure collegial and OHS regulatory authority requirements are met and will properly document concerns and addressing of them, through an unbiased viewpoint. In any case, he makes sure the survey report that an employer produces upon the request of a worker or a WorkSafeBC prevention officer will meet the terms of applicable Health Canada Safety Code guidance and WorkSafeBC OHS Regulations.
Can an employer choose any provider of radiation protection surveys to meet WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation requirements for an acceptable survey?
Absolutely. Again, the employer can choose any person including oneself, to carry out the task. Currently, WorkSafeBC does not have a mandate to critique or determine what are proper qualifications for radiation protection surveyors. Again, its only mandate is to review radiation protection survey reports and do these meet the terms of applicable Health Canda Safety Code guidance and OHS Regulations. It’s left to the employer to ‘shop around’ for the provider that will deliver what WorkSafeBC demands. Scott Broddy at Supertech X-ray proudly delivers what WorkSafeBC expects in a high quality report.
What is WorkSafeBC’s role in making workplaces safe for workers?
WorkSafeBC solely administers the occupational health & safety act and its regulation framework for most workers in BC. It coordinates its radiation safety activities with other jurisdictions in Canada through the Federal Provincial Territorial Radiation Protection Committee (FPTRPC) that is administered through Health Canada. WorkSafeBC looks to expert organizations such as Health Canada (through published Safety Codes) for expert technical guidance when developing radiation safety rules. Acceptance of rule and guidance changes by the public before establishing them normally involve a lengthy consultation process initiated by WorkSafeBC or Health Canada where all interested parties are invited to submit feedback on those proposed changes.
Designated federally mandated workplaces such as federal facilities, broadcasters, banks, railroads and airports operate under radiation safety rules of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulation; and certain facilities operate under CNSC rules, such as nuclear medicine and imaging facilities using live radioactive sources.
Certificates of Radiation Safety- what these are, what does WorkSafeBC require, and what assurance do these give a facility and its staff where diagnostic imaging is carried out?
What These Are…
These contains a declaration by a radiation survey provider that diagnostic imaging situation(s), (each containing one or more sources of ionizing radiation) within a practice facility has been separately inspected in accordance with the radiation safety bylaws of the regulatory college that the practice operates under, for accreditation purposes. Not all regulatory colleges require that their registrants post a certificate of radiation safety in their facility(ies). A practice can have one or more situations such as an enclosed dedicated imaging room or suite and/or controlled access clinical space(s) that for each source of ionizing radiation within require a separate radiation protection survey(s) at periodic intervals.
What WorkSafeBC Requires…
WorkSafeBC1 doesn’t require or recognize any certificate of radiation safety, issued by any provider (including Supertech X-ray), as proof that the OHS regulation required Radiation Protection Surveys have been carried out at your practice. Only written hard-copy Radiation Protection Survey Reports (one report for each source of ionizing radiation in the facility), available onsite at any time for any staff member to review, are proof that such surveys have indeed been carried out for each of the practice’s diagnostic imaging situations (i.e. main, radioscopic, intraoral).
Does Supertech X-ray keep digital back-up copies of its clients’ radiation protection survey reports in its database as a handy and safer alternative to the practice facility having to maintain these records onsite?
No. This would make Supertech X-ray responsible to its clients for maintaining and making available these important records to their workers at any time. This would be in direct contravention of WorkSafeBC1 OHS Regulation 7.25(b) . Please read on….
Supertech X-ray is the only radiation protection surveyor that takes the time to deliver a separate final detailed hard-copy written Radiation Protection Survey Report for each source of ionizing radiation, along with verbal explanation of determinations upon conclusion of the survey(s) BEFORE leaving a client facility- exactly meeting WorkSafeBC1 expectations that your practice is always operating under current (unexpired) Radiation Protection Survey Reports that are always onsite, always accessible without management intervention i.e. placed in the practice Staff Operational and Safety Information Library, (similar to how to equipment operation manuals, WHMIS and (M)SDS reports are made readily available to staff), so a worker isn’t obliged to ask a superior colleague for permission to access these reports.
Supertech X-ray further helps to make sure your practice meets this important WorkSafeBC1 expectation, through its implementation of the Supertech X-ray Radiation Safety Binder (see below!).
What oversight does WorkSafeBC1 carry out and does Supertech X-ray meet their expectations…
The following is taken from WorkSafeBC1 OHS Regulation Guidelines G7.24(a) Radiation surveys - Clarification of how often to conduct and who can conduct:
“WorkSafeBC1 prevention officers may review survey reports to ensure that the terms of the Safety Code and the Regulation have been met.”
Survey reports may mention deficiencies. A diagnostic imaging situation within the practice can normally continue to operate while most deficiencies are being addressed/corrected. WorkSafeBC1 allows certain time periods for your practice to handle any of these deficiencies. A typical scenario is where a WorkSafeBC1 prevention officer carries out a walk-through inspection at a worksite and requests to see the current (unexpired) radiation protection survey report(s). The officer will then ask if the deficiencies noted in the survey report(s), if any, have been addressed. If not yet addressed by the employer, the prevention officer will issue an Inspection Report that must be posted so all practice workers are aware of its contents. It will list the deficiencies, both those in the survey report(s), and any others noticed by the prevention officer during the walk-through inspection, and a time period in which to address these (typically 30 days). This visit concludes and an unannounced follow-up visit will occur shortly after that time period elapses. The initial Inspection Report is again reviewed and if the deficiencies still remain, OHS compliance orders followed by OHS citations and monetary assessments can result.
How does Supertech X-ray gain trust and business of clients?
Through humble demonstration of integrity, competence, thoroughness, experience, knowledge and patience.
Can sharing of travel costs affect the quality of radiation protection surveys?
Supertech X-ray visits one client site per day and endeavours to keep travel costs to a minimum. Fitting multiple surveys into a day’s schedule for a surveyor can become problematic. Less time is available to each practice facility, which usually results in compromise of radiation protection survey thoroughness and quality. Further, since the cost of the inspection can’t change, this time crunch essentially creates a conflict of interest for the surveyor.
Proper radiation protection surveys, involving considerable evaluation and time onsite, individually carried out for each source of ionizing radiation in a facility, are what’s needed- depending on the practice/facility/modality type.
Supertech X-ray is the experienced expert who is serious about comprehensive radiation safety evaluation of not only the equipment, but also facility radiation safety policies, WorkSafeBC1 required postings and documentation, radiation dosimetry records, and maintenance of quality assurance programs including quality control testing records. The big result of a proper radiation protection survey is that everyone in the practice is reassured, in writing, that the safety interests of the patient, clinician, and staff are continuing to be well taken care of.
This approach demonstrates Supertech X-ray’s dedication to the client and practice staff in delivering the best information and explanations with no hurry- no rush; further respecting that patient flow at these times take precedence. Each Supertech survey is invoiced at a flat rate (NOT at an hourly rate) to further reflect that Supertech respects that time spent with patients is always the most important priority for any client.
Is your patient care practice benefiting from the medical x-ray Radiation Protection Surveys mandated by the CCHPBC1, BCCOHP1, CVBC1 and other collegial organizations? A lot depends on the thoroughness of inspections by other providers. These providers typically arrive onsite and do a quick ‘in & out’ job:
i) a quick ‘test’ of the x-ray machine output, taking only about 15-20 minutes followed by...
ii) emailing a PDF x-ray machine ‘test’ report and certificate delivered days or weeks later (since the report and certificate are sent out only if the practice pays for the ‘inspection’- see iii next!).
iii) interestingly, some ‘inspection’ providers demand payment upon arranging an inspection over the phone- days or weeks BEFORE the ‘inspection’ is required to take place. A conflict of interest is happening in this situation where the inspector wants payment beforehand because of doubts the inspection will be paid for if the practice senses a lack of competence and knowledgeability with the inspector.
The above ‘service’ by others is expensive and yet deficient as it’s not what is required to bring your practice to compliance with WorkSafeBC1 OHS regulations. You, the practice owner, are potentially left liable for failing to achieve this compliance. Let Supertech X-ray help with getting your practice past this hurdle properly.
With Supertech X-ray as your guide, we can help your practice meet obligations- and elevate staff awareness of radiation safety to a positive level that they can understand and proactively contribute to.
You too can receive the outstanding and competent level of service that current Supertech X-ray clients already experience! Please check your Radiation Safety Certificate expiry dates. Give Supertech a call, text or email to arrange these surveys now.
Our human and veterinary practice clients include those with digital radiography, intraoral (including hand-held) and extraoral (pano) dental x-ray sources, and advanced modalities such as dynamic radiography, radioscopy, CBCT and CT Scan.
Regarding CBCT and CT Scan modalities…
Supertech X-ray recommends that a current CCPM1 registered medical radiation physicist carry out the required Radiation Protection Survey Report ‘x-ray performance’ and ‘imaging/diagnosis performance’ testing and expertly report the results that would be attached to a Supertech X-ray Radiation Protection Survey Report. Performance Testing is equivalent to annual testing protocol in Health Canada Safety Codes 30 and 35 with the difference being that a QMP (qualified medical physicist) would carry out the testing and report findings accordingly. QMPs are the best experts having the masters/doctoral level of education and experience to overall evaluate these complex systems and find radiation dose, image resolution/contrast and defect concerns that may not be noticeable on patient images but nevertheless can affect a clinician’s ability to best diagnose patient conditions.
Supertech X-ray also provides Radiation Shielding Design and Assessment services for future and current clients.
Contact Scott at Supertech X-ray Services, SURREY BC Canada, at (778) 889-6554 and by email at scott.broddy@supertechxray.ca for more info and current rates.
1 Use of logos or names of collegial or regulatory organizations within do not signify their endorsement, association, preference, or approval of products or services provided by Supertech X-ray Services & Consulting Proprietorship.
Exclusive to Supertech X-ray!
To every client, Supertech X-ray provides, at no cost, a custom logo 'Radiation Safety Binder' where all required and additional radiation safety info can be kept accessible in the practice’s Staff Operational and Safety Information Library, handy for staff education and review at any time. We update the binder contents at every survey for our current clients. This resource is highly regarded by current Supertech X-ray clients as a starting point for current staff and new-hires who want to learn about current radiation safety policy and procedure in the practice. In BC, only Supertech X-ray does all this!
Chiropractic Care- Enhanced with justified and optimised x-ray imaging that is safe for both patient and doctor. Supertech expertise and guidance matters here.
About Scott Broddy and Supertech X-ray Services & Consulting Proprietorship:
Scott Broddy graduated from NAIT Edmonton with a Diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology (2nd yr Option- Petroleum and Applied Geophysics) in 1977, starting out employment with oilfield exploration service providers in the western provinces. His medical x-ray imaging experience spans over 40 years. From 1982 to 1991, he was employed by medical x-ray imaging OEMs in Alberta (Siemens, GE Healthcare) and next at Vancouver General Hospital carrying out radiography equipment service. In 1992 Scott began Supertech X-ray Services & Consulting as sole proprietor, now operating for over 30 years in BC and Alberta, continuing on as an independent service contractor to human and veterinary medical x-ray imaging clinics in the BC Lower Mainland, and 3rd party medical x-ray systems sales, installation, and service suppliers. He presently specializes in human and veterinary medical x-ray facility radiation safety assessments and handling of workplace radiation safety concerns for staff and their patients.