Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A) Except as provided in paragraph (B) of
this rule, caution signs and posting requirements for licensees and registrants
are as follows:
(1) The standard radiation
symbol, unless otherwise authorized by the department or as provided in
paragraph (A)(2) of this rule, shall use the colors magenta, purple, or black
on yellow background. The symbol prescribed is the three-bladed design as
follows:
Click to
view image
(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (A)(1) of this rule, licensees and registrants are
authorized to label sources, source holders, or device components containing
sources of radiation that are subjected to high temperatures, with
conspicuously cast, etched or stamped radiation caution symbols and without a
color requirement.
(3) In addition
to the contents of signs and labels prescribed in this chapter, the licensee or
registrant may provide, on or near the required signs and labels, additional
information, as appropriate, to make individuals aware of potential radiation
exposures and to minimize the exposures.
(4) Posting of radiation areas shall be
accomplished as follows:
(a) The licensee or
registrant shall post each radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs
bearing the radiation symbol and the words "Caution, Radiation Area".
(b) The licensee or registrant shall post
each high radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation
symbol and the words "Caution, High Radiation Area" or "Danger, High Radiation
Area".
(c) The licensee or
registrant shall post each very high radiation area with conspicuous sign or
signs bearing the radiation symbol and words "Grave Danger, Very High Radiation
Area".
(d) The licensee shall post
each airborne radioactivity area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the
radiation symbol and the words "Caution, Airborne Radioactivity Area" or
"Danger, Airborne Radioactivity Area".
(e) The licensee shall post each area or room
in which there is an amount of licensed material used or stored which exceeds
ten times the quantity of such material specified in the appendix to this rule with a conspicuous sign
or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words "Caution, Radioactive
Material(s)" or "Danger, Radioactive Material(s)".
(f) The licensee shall post access openings
to manufacturing or process equipment (such as tanks and vessels) on or in
which radiation sources are mounted, if a person could gain access to the
radiation beam and receive an annual dose to any part of their body which is
greater than the applicable, permissible limits for individuals in rules
3701:1-38-12
and
3701:1-38-13
of the Administrative Code. The posting must include a conspicuous sign or
signs bearing the radiation symbol and warning of the
hazard.
(B) The
following are exceptions to posting requirements set forth in paragraph (A) of
this rule:
(1) A licensee or registrant is
not required to post caution signs in an area or room that contains a source of
radiation provided that the source is located in the area or room for a period
of less than eight hours, and the source of radiation is continuously attended
to during these periods by an individual who takes the precautions necessary to
prevent the exposure of individuals to sources of radiation in excess of the
limits established in rule
3701:1-38-13
of the Administrative Code, and the area or room is subject to licensee or
registrant control.
(2) Rooms or
other areas in hospitals that are occupied by patients are not required to be
posted with caution signs pursuant to paragraph (A) of this rule provided that
the patient could be released from licensee control in accordance with rule
3701:1-58-30
of the Administrative Code.
(3) A
room or area is not required to be posted with a caution sign because of the
presence of a sealed source provided the radiation level at thirty centimeters
from the surface of the sealed source container or housing does not exceed 0.05
millisievert (0.005 rem) per hour.
(4) A room or area is not required to be
posted with a caution sign because of the presence of radiation-generating
equipment used solely for diagnosis in the healing arts.
(5) Rooms in hospitals or clinics that are
used for teletherapy are exempt from the requirement to post caution signs if
access to the room is controlled pursuant to rule
3701:1-58-59
of the Administrative Code and personnel in attendance take necessary
precautions to prevent the inadvertent exposure of workers, other patients, and
members of the public to radiation in excess of the limits established in this
chapter.
(C) Except as
provided in paragraph (E) of this rule, containers shall be labeled as follows:
(1) The licensee shall ensure that each
container of licensed material bears a durable, clearly visible label bearing
the radiation symbol and the words "Caution, Radioactive Material" or "Danger,
Radioactive Material". The label shall also provide information, such as the
radionuclides present, an estimate of the quantity of radioactivity, the date
for which the activity is estimated, radiation levels, kinds of materials, and
mass enrichment, to permit individuals handling or using the containers, or
working in the vicinity of the containers, to take precautions to avoid or
minimize exposures.
(2) Prior to
removal or disposal of empty uncontaminated containers to unrestricted areas,
each licensee shall, remove or deface the radioactive material label or
otherwise clearly indicate that the container no longer contains radioactive
materials.
(D) Each
registrant shall ensure that each radiation-generating equipment is labeled in
a conspicuous manner which cautions individuals that radiation is produced when
it is energized.
(E) A licensee is
not required to label the following:
(1)
Containers holding licensed material in quantities less than the quantities
listed in the appendix to this rule;
(2) Containers holding licensed material in
concentrations less than those specified in table III of appendix C to rule
3701:1-38-12
of the Administrative Code;
(3)
Containers attended by an individual who takes the precautions necessary to
prevent the exposure of individuals in excess of the limits established by rule
3701:1-38-13
of the Administrative Code;
(4)
Containers when they are in transport and packaged and labeled in accordance
with the regulations of the United States department of
transportation;
(5) Containers that
are accessible only to individuals authorized to handle or use them, or to work
in the vicinity of the containers, if the contents are identified to these
individuals by a readily available written record. Examples of containers of
this type are containers in locations such as water-filled canals, storage
vaults, or hot cells. The record shall be retained as long as the containers
are in use for the purpose indicated on the record; or
(6) Manufacturing or processing equipment
such as contaminated piping and tanks, and vessels on or in which radiation
sources are installed.
(F) Each licensee shall:
(1) Monitor the external surfaces of a
labeled package for radioactive contamination unless the package contains only
radioactive material in the form of gas or in special form as defined in rule
3701:1-38-01 of the
Administrative Code;
(2) Monitor
the external surfaces of a labeled package for radiation levels unless the
package contains quantities of radioactive material that are less than or equal
to the type A quantity; and
(3)
Monitor all packages known to contain radioactive material for radioactive
contamination and radiation levels if there is evidence of degradation of
package integrity, such as a package that is crushed, wet, or
damaged.
(4) Perform the monitoring
required by this paragraph as soon as practicable after receipt of the package,
but not later than three hours after the package is received at the licensee's
facility, if it is received during the licensee's normal working hours. If a
package is received after working hours, the package shall be monitored no
later than three hours from the beginning of the next working
day.
(G) Each licensee
who expects to receive a package containing quantities of radioactive material
in excess of a type A quantity as defined in rule
3701:1-38-01 of the
Administrative Code and as provided in rule
3701:1-50-25
of the Administrative Code, shall make arrangements to receive the package when
the carrier offers it for delivery or expeditiously upon receiving notification
that the package is available for pick-up.
(H) The licensee shall immediately notify the
final delivery carrier and the department by telephone and either telegram,
mailgram, or facsimile, when:
(1) Removable
radioactive surface contamination exceeds the limits as provided in
49 C.F.R.
173.443 (as in effect on the effective date of
this rule); or
(2) External
radiation levels exceed the limits as provided in
49 C.F.R.
172.403 (as in effect on the effective date of
this rule).
(I)
Each licensee shall:
(1) Establish, maintain,
and retain written procedures for safely opening packages in which radioactive
material is received; and
(2)
Ensure that the procedures are followed and that due consideration is given to
special instructions for the type of package being opened.
(J) A licensee that transfers a special form
source to and from a work site in a vehicle owned or operated by the licensee
is exempt from the contamination monitoring requirements of this rule, but is
not exempt from the monitoring requirement in this rule for measuring radiation
levels that ensures that the source is still properly lodged in its shield.
Click to
view Appendix