Code of Massachusetts Regulations
105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Title 105 CMR 120.000 - The Control of Radiation
RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Section 120.320 - Training and Testing

Universal Citation: 105 CMR 120.000 MA Code of Regs 120.320

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(A) Radiographer Trainee Requirements. The licensee or registrant shall not permit any individual to act as a radiographer trainee until the individual

(1) has received copies of and instructions in the requirements described in 105 CMR 120.300 and the applicable sections of 105 CMR 120.100, 120.200, 120.750, and applicable DOT regulations as referenced in 105 CMR 120.770, a copy of the license or certificate of registration issued to the licensee or registrant and copies of and instructions in the licensee's or registrant's operating and emergency procedures;

(2) has demonstrated an understanding of items in 105 CMR 120.320(A)(1) by successful completion of a written or oral examination, administered by the licensee or registrant;

(3) has been instructed in the use of the licensee's or registrant's sources of radiation, radiographic exposure devices, associated equipment, related handling tools and radiation survey instruments that may be employed in industrial radiographic assignments; and

(4) has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the licensee or registrant, an understanding of the instructions provided pursuant to 105 CMR 120.320(A)(2) and (3) as evidenced by successful completion of a written or oral test and a field examination on the subjects covered.

(B) Radiographer Requirements. The licensee or registrant shall not permit any individual to act as a radiographer until the individual:

(1) has completed a course of at least 40 hours on the applicable subjects outlined in 105 CMR 120.320(G). The course shall be one that has been accepted by the Agency, another radiation control agency or the NRC;

(2) has completed hands-on experience as a radiographer trainee under the personal supervision, as specified in 105 CMR 120.326, of one or more radiographers:
(a) Hands-on experience in addition to on the job training consisting of hands-on experience shall include at least minimum of two months (320 hours) of active participation in the performance of industrial radiography utilizing radioactive material and/or one month (160 hours) of active participation in the performance of industrial radiography utilizing radiation machines.

(b) Individuals performing industrial radiography utilizing radioactive materials and radiation machines must complete both segments of hands-on experience.

(3) has successfully completed within the last five years the appropriate agency-administerd examination as prescribed in 105 CMR 120.321. Or the appropriate examination of another certifying entity that affords the same or comparable certification standards of 105 CMR 120.320(B);

(4) Possess a current certification ID card issued in accordance with 105 CMR 120.321(H) or by another certifying entity that affords the same or comparable certification standards as those afforded by 105 CMR 120.320(B);

(5) Once an individual has completed the requirements of 105 CMR 120.320(B)(4), the licensee or registrant is not required to submit the documentation referenced in 105 CMR 120.320(B)(1) and (2).

(C) In addition, the licensee or registrant may not permit any individual to act as a radiographer until the individual:

(1) has received copies of and instruction in the requirements described in 105 CMR 120.300 and the applicable sections of 105 CMR 120.100, 120.200, 120.750, and applicable DOT regulations as referenced in 105 CMR 120.770, in the license or registration under which the radiographer's assistant will perform industrial radiography, and the licensee's or registrant's operating and emergency procedures;

(2) has demonstrated an understanding of items in 105 CMR 120.320(C)(1) by successful completion of a written or oral examination administered by the licensee or registrant;

(3) Has received training in the use and daily inspection of the registrant's radiation survey instruments, the registrant's radiation machines, or the licensee's radiographic exposure devices, associated equipment and related handling tools; and,

(4) Has demonstrated competence in the use of the equipment described in 105 CMR 120.320(C)(3) by successful completion of a practical examination administered by the licensee or registrant.

(D) The licensee or registrant shall provide annual refresher safety training for each radiographer and radiographer's assistant at intervals not to exceed 12 months.

(E) Except as provided in 105 CMR 120.320(E)(4), the radiation safety officer or designee shall conduct an inspection program of the job performance of each radiographer and radiographer trainee to ensure that the Agency's regulations, license or registration requirements, and operating and emergency procedures are followed. The inspection program must:

(1) Include observation of the performance of each radiographer and radiographer trainee during an actual industrial radiographic operation, at intervals not to exceed six months; and,

(2) Provide that, if a radiographer or a radiographer trainee has not participated in an industrial radiographic operation for more than six months since the last inspection, the radiographer must demonstrate knowledge of the training requirements of 105 CMR 120.320(C)(3) and the radiographer's assistant must demonstrate knowledge of the training requirements of 105 CMR 120.320(A)(3) by a practical examination administered by the licensee or registrant before these individuals can next participate in a radiographic operation.

(3) The Agency may consider alternatives in those situations where the individual serves as both radiographer and radiation safety officer.

(4) In those operations where a single individual serves as both radiographer and radiation safety officer, and performs all radiography operations, an inspection program is not required.

(F) The licensee or registrant shall maintain records of the above training to include certification documents, written, oral and practical examinations, refresher safety training and inspections of job performance in accordance with 105 CMR 120.367.

(G) The licensee or registrant shall include the following subjects, as applicable, that are required in 105 CMR 120 320(B)(1):

(1) Fundamentals of radiation safety including:
(a) Characteristics of gamma and x-radiation;

(b) Units of radiation dose and quantity of radioactivity;

(c) Significance of dose to include: radiation protection standards, biological effects of radiation dose, and case histories of industrial radiography incidents;

(d) Levels of radiation from sources of radiation; and,

(e) Methods of controlling radiation dose (time, distance, and shielding);

(2) Radiation detection instruments including:
(a) Use, operation, calibration, and limitations of radiation survey instruments;

(b) Survey techniques; and,

(c) Use of personnel monitoring equipment to include as a minimum, film badges, TLDs OSLs, pocket dosimeters, alarming ratemeters and electronic personal dosimeters;

(3) Equipment to be used including:
(a) Operation and control of radiographic exposure equipment, remote handling equipment, and storage and transport containers, including pictures or models of source assemblies (pigtails);

(b) Operation and control of radiation machines;

(c) Storage, control, and disposal of sources of radiation; and,

(d) Inspection and maintenance of equipment.

(4) The requirements of pertinent state and federal regulations; and,

(5) Generic written operating and emergency procedures.

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