Bruce Power Commits to International Radiation Safety

2023-03-27

Pictured: Mike Rinker, Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs and Environment for Bruce Power

 

Bruce Power, the licensed operator of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, Canada, and leading supplier of medical isotopes used worldwide in cancer-fighting treatments and sterilisation of medical devices, has committed $150,000 over three years to support global radiation safety through a contribution to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

In 2021, ICRP announced an open and cooperative global effort to review and revise the System of Radiological Protection.  The result will be the next set of General Recommendations that will be the basis of international policy, practice, and regulation for the protection of people, animals, and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.  This will supersede the current recommendations released in 2007 to ensure the System is well prepared and fit-for-purpose for the next generation.

ICRP is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (#1166304), that relies on voluntary contributions from organisations around the world to promote radiological protection. While most of ICRP’s financial support currently is from the governmental sector, Bruce Power’s new commitment makes them the leading industry supporter. With this commitment, Bruce Power is hoping that other members of the global utilities community will follow suit to enable timely advancement of research and recommendations in all critical areas.

“We believe in the work the International Commission on Radiological Protection is carrying out to update the System of Radiological Protection to protect people and the environment around the world, and we’re hoping other industry peers join us in supporting this worthwhile endeavour,” said Mike Rinker, Bruce Power’s Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs and Environment. “ICRP aligns closely with our value of safety first and protecting our people, communities and the environment from the effects of radiation.”

“This commitment from Bruce Power will help ensure the success of our global effort to keep radiological protection fit-for-purpose today and for the next generation, through an accessible and transparent review and revision process.” said ICRP Scientific Secretary & CEO Christopher Clement, adding “Patients, workers, the public, animals, and the environment worldwide will benefit.”

Bruce Power joins a list of organisations making financial commitments to ICRP and this important work, including the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV, Germany), Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR, UAE), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), and many others.

Organisations interested in playing a larger role in the review and revision of the System of Radiological protection are encouraged to contact Kelsey Cloutier, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications for ICRP.