Policy
Uranium miners and mill workers who have been exposed to the maximum radiation exposure level of 2 Working Level Months (WLM) per quarter and 4 WLM per annum may be entitled to benefits while the workers are obliged to remain out of the radiation exposure environment.
Guidelines
Alternate Work
Special early return to work or labour market re-entry assistance programs exist to remove workers from the hazards of occupationally generated diseases. If the miner has achieved a total of 120 WLMs during lifetime employment exposure, alternate work out of the employment exposure may be provided. If the alternate work is at a reduction in wages, temporary partial difference in earnings benefits are paid under sections 40, 41, 42, 43(2), and 108 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
Definitions
Radon Gas -- Radon gas is one of the natural substances produced as a result of the radioactive decay of uranium.
Radon Progeny -- Radon progeny are the natural radioactive substances produced by the radioactive decay of radon gas.
Working Level Month (WLM) -- The exposure resulting from inhalation of air containing one working level of radon progeny for one working month, where one working month equals 170 working hours.
Working Level -- The amount of any combination of short lived radioactive decay products of radon-222 in one litre of air that will release 1.3 X 10(5) megaelectron volts of alpha particle energy during their radioactive decay to lead-210 (radium D).
Federal Regulations -- The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) establishes the federal regulations for maximum exposure to radiation for uranium miners and mill workers. All mines concerned were informed of the regulations, which became effective January 16, 1978.
Maximum Exposure Level -- As provided by the AECB regulations, the maximum exposure level of 2 WLM per quarter and 4 WLM per annum for uranium miners and mill workers is accepted as the criterion for payment of temporary compensation while the worker is obliged to remain out of exposure employment.
Maximum Exposure Attained In Shorter Time -- If the maximum exposure is attained in a shorter period of time than allowed by the regulations, the miner is removed from the exposure employment and paid benefits under sections 43(2), 44, 101 and 105 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act until January 1 of the following year.
Application date
This policy applies to all accidents.
Document History
This document replaces 04-04-20.
References
Legislative Authority
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Sections 2(1), 15, 40, 41, 42, 43(2), 44, 108
Minute
Board of Directors
#8(XXIX), June 10, 2004, Page 6621