Events Reporting: Research Reactors
For the latest information visit:
-
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
- Chalk River Laboratories' community information bulletin and event reports web pages
- Whiteshell decommissioning web page
- Port Hope Area Initiative's public disclosure web page
- McMaster University's public disclosure web page
- Corporation de l'École Polytechnique's SLOWPOKE-2 web page
- Royal Military College of Canada's SLOWPOKE-2 facility news web page
- University of Alberta's SLOWPOKE web page
- Saskatchewan Research Council's SLOWPOKE-2 web page
2024
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories – Chalk River Laboratories
Date of event: January 17, 2024
On January 25, 2024, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) contacted the CNSC Duty Officer line to report an issue with its Learning Management System that led to multiple CNL employees having expired Group 2 and Group 3 Radiation Protection (RP) training. Following a review of CNL’s training management system, it was determined that the system had failed to notify employees, as well as their managers and supervisors, that their training had expired or was pending expiry.
CNL has initiated an investigation to identify how many employees require training updates and has put in place work restrictions as needed. A corrective action plan is underway to quickly rectify any gaps in personnel training and to ensure all non-compliances are addressed.
CNSC staff will continue to maintain regulatory oversight and monitor the progress of CNL’s intermediate and long-term actions and its root-cause analysis of the RP training issues.
Read CNL’s Community Information Bulletin
2023
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories – Whiteshell Laboratories
Date of event: April 27, 2023
Following an internal self-assessment of the implementation of the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) fire response program at Whiteshell Laboratories (WL), CNL identified areas of non-compliance involving WL’s fire response training and equipment.
CNL has conducted a preliminary risk assessment, and immediate compensatory measures have been taken to ensure the ongoing safe operation of the site. These measures include the stand down of all non-essential work, the verification of fire safety systems in facilities, and the maintaining of a modified shift schedule to ensure the minimum shift complement of fire fighters.
CNL has committed to corrective actions that include carrying out a thorough review of training qualifications for fire protection staff and of equipment and response capability, and conducting all necessary training for the fire fighters at WL. Regular operations will resume upon implementation of all corrective actions.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) was notified of the event by CNL on April 27, 2023. CNSC staff will conduct regulatory oversight activities to confirm the effective implementation of all actions required for CNL to come into compliance with fire protection program requirements.
Read CNL’s Community Information Bulletin: https://www.cnl.ca/public_disclosures/work-stand-down-whiteshell-laboratories/
2019
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: February 3, 2019
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
On February 3, 2019, the CNSC was informed of an electrical power outage at Chalk River Laboratories. Power has been restored to the majority of the site. The cause of the outage is under investigation, but CNL reports that there was no impact on the safety of the public or the environment. The CNSC site office at Chalk River Laboratories is monitoring the situation.
Visit CNL’s website for more information on the outage, as well as an update on the event.
2017
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: July 30, 2017
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reported to the CNSC that on July 30, the Chalk River Laboratories site experienced a loss of electrical power. The cause of the electrical power loss was identified as a breakdown of a Hydro One power distribution line located on the Chalk River site. The downed line caused a small fire in the outer area, away from the main campus. CNL first responders attended the scene of the fire, and it was quickly extinguished and controlled. The power has since been restored to the site.
There were no injuries and there have been no radiological releases to the public, environment or employees as a result of this event.
For more information visit CNL's website.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: April 7, 2017
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reported to the CNSC that on Friday April 7, CNL fire response personnel responded to an alarm at a small utility building located at the Chalk River site.
There were no injuries related to this event and there have been no radiological releases, to the public,
environment or employees.
An investigation into this incident has been initiated.
For more information visit CNL's website.
2016
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: September 10, 2016
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reported to the CNSC that an incident occurred at its Chalk River Laboratories. In the evening of September 10, CNL's emergency services responded to a medical emergency involving a CNL employee at the Chalk River Laboratories main campus, which resulted in a fatality.
There was no risk to workers, the public or the environment as a result of this unfortunate event.
An investigation into this incident has been initiated. The CNSC will be reviewing the results of this investigation.
For more information visit CNL's website.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: July 29, 2016
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL informed the CNSC of a small fire that occurred in a paint tray during construction work at the facility. CRL workers extinguished the fire in accordance with CNSC emergency program requirements. The fire department performed an assessment and declared that there was no danger. There were no injuries as a result of this event, and there was no damage to the building.
McMaster University
Date of event: July 7, 2016
McMaster Nuclear Research Reactor
The CNSC was informed by McMaster University, in accordance with CNSC emergency program requirements, that a fire occurred today in a building adjacent to the McMaster nuclear research reactor. As a precaution, the reactor was shut down. The Hamilton Fire Department responded and the fire was extinguished, with no injuries reported. There was no impact to the reactor or the building it is housed in.
Visit McMaster's website for more information.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: June 15, 2016
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reports that a safety alarm sounded at its Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facility (Building 405) on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3:15 p.m.
Visit CNL's website for more information.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: June 9, 2016
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CRL informed the CNSC of the activation of a fire alarm at the NRU facility, which was in a safe shutdown state at the time. The alarm was activated by smoke related to an electrical breaker. CRL's emergency services responded to the alarm and verified that there was no fire.
Visit CNL's website for more information.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: April 26, 2016
CNL reported to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) that the overflow of a heavy water dump tank at the ZED-2 low power research reactor resulted in heavy water flowing into the ventilation ducts. The heavy water evaporated and was released through the ductwork to the environment. There was no risk to workers, the public or the environment as a result of this event.
In accordance with CNSC requirements, an investigation into this incident has been initiated by CNL.
CNSC staff will be reviewing the results of this investigation.
This event will be discussed at a public Commission meeting after review of the investigation.
For more information visit CNL's website.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: April 19, 2016
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reported to the CNSC that an incident occurred at its Chalk River Laboratories during the loading of a fuel basket containing spent fuel bundles from NRX (National Research Experimental). The integrity of the load was not compromised, and there was no damage to the fuel or releases of any kind. There was no risk to workers, the public or the environment as a result of this event.
An investigation into this incident has been initiated by CNL. The CNSC will be reviewing the results of this investigation.
For more information visit CNL's website.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: January 18, 2016
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reported to the CNSC that an incident occurred during a security-related training exercise at its Chalk River Laboratories.
No workers were injured. An investigation into this incident has been initiated by CNL. The CNSC will be reviewing the results of this investigation.
This was a non-radiological event with no impact to the health and safety of the public or the environment.
For more information visit CNL's website.
2015
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: October 28, 2015
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
In accordance with regulatory requirements, on December 17 the CNSC was informed of an occurrence at CNL's Chalk River Laboratories involving the failure of a fuel caddy during the preparation of National Research Experimental fuel assemblies for transport of fuel to the USA (as part of the repatriation project under the Global Threat Reduction Initiative). The integrity of the transport package was not compromised, and there was no damage to the fuel or releases of any kind. There was no risk to the public or the environment as a result of this occurrence.
CNSC staff will discuss preliminary findings of its review of the reports submitted to the CNSC during a status report at the January 28, 2016, public Commission meeting.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: June 26, 2015
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources announced that the Government of Canada has selected Canadian National Energy Alliance (CNEA) as the preferred bidder to manage and operate CNL, a subsidiary of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). Read Natural Resources Canada's news release for more information.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
Date of event: April 12, 2015
Chalk River Laboratories (CRL)
CNL reports that the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor will enter its annual planned 30-day extended outage on April 12, 2015.
For more information visit CNL's website.
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