Changes

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.

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.

=== '''What were the challenges the laboratory faced while preparing for accreditation?'''[edit | edit source] ===

=== '''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  [https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html 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!

[[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]]

It is important to note  that the accreditation task presented to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC)  and NRC CLAS, with the measurement scope that the CNSC laboratory sought, was  the first of its kind for all three of these primary project stakeholders, and  a first for Canada. The unique scope of accreditation turned out to be a  challenge for the SCC and the NRC Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (NRC  CLAS), as the requirements for the analysis of measurement uncertainties and  model equations, in addition to data analysis of the measurements and  interpretation of the comparison of results from PT exercises are different from  other physical and electrical metrological calibrations.

It is important to note  that the accreditation task presented to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC)  and NRC CLAS, with the measurement scope that the CNSC laboratory sought, was  the first of its kind for all three of these primary project stakeholders, and  a first for Canada. The unique scope of accreditation turned out to be a  challenge for the SCC and the NRC Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (NRC  CLAS), as the requirements for the analysis of measurement uncertainties and  model equations, in addition to data analysis of the measurements and  interpretation of the comparison of results from PT exercises are different from  other physical and electrical metrological calibrations.

=== '''What’s next?'''[edit | edit source] ===

=== '''What’s next?''' ===

The [https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/calibration-laboratory-assessment-service/directory-accredited-calibration-laboratories/clas-certificate-number-2016-05 current scope of accreditation] includes working measurement standards for air kerma measurements, gamma survey meters, and personal electronic dosimeters. The CNSC laboratory has prepared a project management plan to extend the scope to include electronic and radiological calibrations of survey meters for gamma, neutron, alpha and beta radiation measurements, as well as energy calibrations of the spectrometers used for gamma and neutron measurements. There’s lots more to do!  [[File:Typical_equipment.png|thumb|Typical instruments that the CNSC laboratory calibrates under the scope of accreditation]]

The [https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/calibration-laboratory-assessment-service/directory-accredited-calibration-laboratories/clas-certificate-number-2016-05 current scope of accreditation] includes working measurement standards for air kerma measurements, gamma survey meters, and personal electronic dosimeters. The CNSC laboratory has prepared a project management plan to extend the scope to include electronic and radiological calibrations of survey meters for gamma, neutron, alpha and beta radiation measurements, as well as energy calibrations of the spectrometers used for gamma and neutron measurements. There’s lots more to do!  [[File:Typical_equipment.png|thumb|Typical instruments that the CNSC laboratory calibrates under the scope of accreditation]]

=== '''How can CNSC staff members suggest improvements to the laboratory?'''[edit | edit source] ===

=== '''How can CNSC staff members suggest improvements to the laboratory?''' ===

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.

[[File:Control_room.png|thumb|Control room for remote handling of equipment and sources during calibration ]]

[[File:Control_room.png|thumb|Control room for remote handling of equipment and sources during calibration ]]