Radiation Safety Rules and Regulations

NRC stands for

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What body regulates all nuclear material and byproduct material?

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What body regulates CT scanners?

the state

agreement states

have an agreement with the NRC to accept responsibility for regulating byproduct materials within their jurisdiction (more strict than NRC)

NRC 10 CFR Part 19

Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers: Inspections and Investigation

NRC 10 CFR Part 20

Standards for Protection against Radiation

NRC 10 CFR Part 35

Medical Use of Byproduct Material

NRC 10 CFR Part 33

Specific Domestic Licenses of Broad Scope for Byproduct Material

Broad Scope licenses

reserved for large hospitals and academic institutions (Type A for largest institutions, Type B and C too)

Limited Scope licenses

specific licenses usually for small hospitals and office practices

authorized user

person with documented training and experience in the safe handling and use of radioactive materials for medical use

What is the authorized user authorized to do?

to order, receive, store, and administer radipharmaceuticals

Who is listed on a radioactive materials license?

all authorized users, the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO, only 1)

Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)

responsible for implementing the radiation safety program and ensuring that activities are being performed in accordance with approved procedures and regulatory requirements

How often does the Radiation Safety Committee meet?

every 6 months

How long are survey instrument calibration records kept?

3 years

How long are dosage records kept?

3 years

What must the dosage record include?

• radiopharmaceutical name

• patient name

• dose

• date and time of dosage

• who determined the dosage

How often is ambient exposure rate measured in areas of radionuclide use or storage?

weekly

How often is ambient exposure rate measured in areas where byproduct material requiring a written directive was prepared or administered?

daily

How long are records of ambient exposure rate kept?

3 years

How often should xenon traps/collecting systems be checked?

every 6 months

written directive

written order by an AU for the administration of byproduct material to a specific patient

When is it necessary to have a written directive?

• I-131 therapy for doses greater than 30 uCi

• β-emitting radionuclides

What must a written directive include?

• patient’s name

• dosage

• AU’s signature

• date

• route of administration

How long are copies of written directives kept?

3 years

medical event

• wrong patient, wrong radiopharmaceutical, wrong route of administration, or administered dose differing from the prescribed dose by more than 20%

• AND

• effective dose equivalent exceeds 5 rem to whole body or 50 rem to any individual organ

Who are medical events reported to?

RSO, NRC, referring physician, affected patient

How long are records of procedures for administrations requiring a written directive kept?

for the duration of the license

How long are records of actions taken by management relative to the radiation protection program kept?

5 years

Who is the governing body regarding transportation of radioactive materials?

Department of Transportation

maximum allowable surface dose rates for White I label

• 1 meter: 0 mR/hr

• surface: 0.5 mR/hr

maximum allowable surface dose rates for Yellow II label

• 1 meter: 1 mR/hr

• surface: 50 mR/hr

maximum allowable surface dose rates for Yellow III label

• 1 meter: 10 mR/hr

• surface: 200 mR/hr

transportation index

millirems per hour measured at 1 meter from the package

How long do you have to check a radioactive package for contamination?

3 hours from delivery or beginning of work day

process of accepting radioactive shipments

1. inspection, looking for damage or leakage

2. external survey with G-M counter

3. wipe test

wipe test limit for radioactive shipment

6600 dpm

unrestricted areas have a dose rate of less than

2 mrem/hr

radiation area has levels that could result in a dose equivalent of more than

5 mrem/hr

high radiation area has levels that could result in a dose equivalent of more than

100 mrem/hr

Where must a caution radioactive materials sign be posted?

where licensed radioactive material is used or stored

What colors are the radiation signs?

yellow and magenta

How much radioactivity is allowed released into the sewer in one year?

1 Ci

to decay in storage, the material must have a physical half life of less than

120 days

After decaying in storage, material may be disposed of if

• monitoring at the surface is equal to background

• labels are removed or obliterated

How long do we keep radioactive material for decay?

10 half lives

Patient may be released if the total effective dose equivalent to another individual is unlikely to exceed

0.5 rem

Patient must be given written instructions if the total effective dose equivalent to another individual is likely to exceed

0.1 rem

Written instructions for patients undergoing radiation therapy includes

• maintaining distance from other persons

• sleeping arrangements

• minimizing time in public spaces

• precautions to reduce the spread of radioactive contamination

What is the recommended shield material for positron emitters?

tungsten