Changes

Laboratory accreditation is a formal process of recognition by a third party organization to establish that a laboratory is technically competent and impartial. The CNSC laboratory was required to demonstrate its ability to produce precise and accurate test and calibration data, and to show the technical competence of staff. [https://ilac.org/ilac-mra-and-signatories/benefits/ Learn more].

Laboratory accreditation is a formal process of recognition by a third party organization to establish that a laboratory is technically competent and impartial. The CNSC laboratory was required to demonstrate its ability to produce precise and accurate test and calibration data, and to show the technical competence of staff. [https://ilac.org/ilac-mra-and-signatories/benefits/ Learn more].

One reason that the CNSC pursued this recognition for the laboratory is because ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is an internationally accepted standard. Accreditation to such a standard provides formal recognition of competent laboratories throughout the world.

One reason that the CNSC pursued this recognition for the laboratory is because [https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html ISO/IEC 17025:2005] is an internationally accepted standard. Accreditation to such a standard provides formal recognition of competent laboratories throughout the world.

This recognition is important because, in all its efforts to fulfill its mandate, the CNSC strives continuously not only to achieve excellence in its operations, but also to foster public trust and confidence. The CNSC laboratory is no exception. With the calibration services becoming accredited by recognized bodies like the SCC and NRC CLAS, the CNSC laboratory has received a significant global mark of approval of high quality of its services. This in turn contributes to building public trust and confidence in the laboratory’s operations and the CNSC as a whole.

This recognition is important because, in all its efforts to fulfill its mandate, the CNSC strives continuously not only to achieve excellence in its operations, but also to foster public trust and confidence. The CNSC laboratory is no exception. With the calibration services becoming accredited by recognized bodies like the SCC and NRC CLAS, the CNSC laboratory has received a significant global mark of approval of high quality of its services. This in turn contributes to building public trust and confidence in the laboratory’s operations and the CNSC as a whole.

During this voluntary process, specialist technical assessors from NRC CLAS and NRC Measurement Science and Standards first conducted a thorough desktop assessment of the management system manual documentation and then a rigorous onsite evaluation of the laboratory’s processes, staff and equipment.

During this voluntary process, specialist technical assessors from NRC CLAS and NRC Measurement Science and Standards first conducted a thorough desktop assessment of the management system manual documentation and then a rigorous onsite evaluation of the laboratory’s processes, staff and equipment.

Upon concluding that the CNSC Laboratory met all requirements of the stringent ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard, NRC CLAS recommended accreditation to the SCC, which reviewed the results of assessment and granted the recognition.

Upon concluding that the CNSC Laboratory met all requirements of the stringent [https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html ISO/IEC 17025:2005] standard, NRC CLAS recommended accreditation to the SCC, which reviewed the results of assessment and granted the recognition.

==== How do CNSC staff members (customers) and licensees benefit? ====

==== How do CNSC staff members (customers) and licensees benefit? ====

The results of the process showcase the technical and service-oriented capabilities of the CNSC laboratory, including highly professional technical staff, equipment, processes, and successful participation in proficiency testing. Together these features make the laboratory a leader in calibration services that are crucial for reliable radiation measurements – a key component of nuclear regulation.  

The results of the process showcase the technical and service-oriented capabilities of the CNSC laboratory, including highly professional technical staff, equipment, processes, and successful participation in proficiency testing. Together these features make the laboratory a leader in calibration services that are crucial for reliable radiation measurements – a key component of nuclear regulation.  

The ISO 17025:2005 accreditation provides high confidence to both the regulator and licensees in the data used for key analyses and regulatory decisions.  

The [https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html ISO/IEC 17025:2005] accreditation provides high confidence to both the regulator and licensees in the data used for key analyses and regulatory decisions.  

[[File:Clifford.png|thumb|Instrumentation Technologist Clifford Chouinor sets up working standard for calibration at the CNSC laboratory]]  

[[File:Clifford.png|thumb|Instrumentation Technologist Clifford Chouinor sets up working standard for calibration at the CNSC laboratory]]  

==== What were the challenges the laboratory faced while preparing for accreditation? ====

==== What were the challenges the laboratory faced while preparing for accreditation? ====

Adapting all in-house MS Excel  spreadsheets, writing procedures and work instructions to comply with all the  ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard requirements was certainly a big challenge. There  are a lot of documents!

Adapting all in-house MS Excel  spreadsheets, writing procedures and work instructions to comply with all the  [https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html ISO/IEC 17025:2005] standard requirements was certainly a big challenge. There  are a lot of documents!

Another significant  challenge was to find proficiency testing (PT) providers with appropriate  measurement capabilities to meet ISO compliance requirements. The capabilities  of the few established and reputable PT providers, such as the National  Research Council of Canada (NRC), the National Institute of Standards and  Technologies (NIST) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are  limited to their well-characterized artefacts consisting of working measurement  instruments for air kerma measurements. Their PT capabilities do not extend to field  instruments such as personal dosimeters and gamma survey equipment.

Another significant  challenge was to find proficiency testing (PT) providers with appropriate  measurement capabilities to meet ISO compliance requirements. The capabilities  of the few established and reputable PT providers, such as the National  Research Council of Canada (NRC), the National Institute of Standards and  Technologies (NIST) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are  limited to their well-characterized artefacts consisting of working measurement  instruments for air kerma measurements. Their PT capabilities do not extend to field  instruments such as personal dosimeters and gamma survey equipment.

Through annual customer satisfaction surveys that the CNSC laboratory conducts, CNSC staff members who have used the laboratory services in the previous year can provide feedback on their quality, including suggestions for improvement. The CNSC laboratory has been conducting such surveys since 2015, and has taken action to address comments from its customers to meet its commitment to provide a high service level and meet customer expectations. One such action was to respond to the suggestion to provide links to instrument manuals from the laboratory’s Web page.

Through annual customer satisfaction surveys that the CNSC laboratory conducts, CNSC staff members who have used the laboratory services in the previous year can provide feedback on their quality, including suggestions for improvement. The CNSC laboratory has been conducting such surveys since 2015, and has taken action to address comments from its customers to meet its commitment to provide a high service level and meet customer expectations. One such action was to respond to the suggestion to provide links to instrument manuals from the laboratory’s Web page.

The CNSC laboratory gamma calibration service now operates within a quality management system that complies with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005. As specified in the quality management system, the laboratory implements mechanisms including, but not limited to, proficiency testing, customer satisfaction surveys, internal reviews, management reviews, and corrective and preventative actions to drive continual improvement, which is the true intention of the ISO/IEC standard.

The CNSC laboratory gamma calibration service now operates within a quality management system that complies with the requirements of [https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html ISO/IEC 17025:2005]. As specified in the quality management system, the laboratory implements mechanisms including, but not limited to, proficiency testing, customer satisfaction surveys, internal reviews, management reviews, and corrective and preventative actions to drive continual improvement, which is the true intention of the ISO/IEC standard.