South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-63 - Radioactive Materials (Title A)
Part V - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS
Section 61-63.V.RHA 5.14 - Personnel Monitoring Control

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-63.V.RHA 5.14

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

5.14.1 The licensee may not permit any individual to act as a radiographer or a radiographer's assistant unless, at all times during radiographic operations, each individual wears, on the trunk of the body, a direct reading dosimeter, an operating alarm rate meter and a personnel dosimeter. At permanent radiography facilities where other appropriate alarming or warning devices are in routine use, the wearing of an alarming rate meter is not required. Pocket dosimeters must have a range from zero to at least 200 milliroentgens and must be recharged at the start of each shift. Electronic personal dosimeters may only be used in place of ion-chamber pocket dosimeters. Each personnel dosimeter must be assigned to and worn by only one individual. Film badges must be replaced at least monthly and all other personnel dosimeters that require replacement must be replaced at least quarterly. All personnel dosimeters must be evaluated at least quarterly or promptly after replacement, whichever is more frequent.

5.14.2 Pocket dosimeters or electronic personal dosimeters must be read and exposures recorded at the beginning and end of each shift. The licensee shall retain each record of these exposures in accordance with RHA 5.14.7.1.

5.14.3 Pocket dosimeters or electronic personal dosimeters shall be checked at periods not to exceed one year for correct response to radiation. Acceptable dosimeters shall read within plus or minus 20 percent of the true radiation exposure. Records must be maintained in accordance with RHA 5.14.7.1.

5.14.4 If an individual's pocket chamber is found to be off scale, or if his or her electronic personal dosimeter reads greater than 2 millisieverts (200 millirems), and the possibility of radiation exposure cannot be ruled out as the cause, the individual's personnel dosimeter must be sent for processing within 24 hours. For personnel dosimeters that do not require processing, evaluation of the dosimeter must be started within 24 hours. In addition, the individual may not resume work associated with licensed material use until a determination of the individual's radiation exposure has been made. This determination must be made by the RSO or the RSO's designee. The results of this determination must be included in records to be maintained by the licensee until the Department terminates the license.

If the personnel dosimeter that is required by RHA 5.14.1 is lost or damaged, the worker shall cease work immediately until a replacement personnel dosimeter meeting the requirements is provided and the exposure is calculated for the time period from issuance to loss or damage of the personnel dosimeter. The results of the calculated exposure and the time period for which the personnel dosimeter was lost or damaged must be included in the records to be maintained until the Department terminates the license.

5.14.5 Dosimetry results must be retained in accordance with RHA 5.14.7.

5.14.6 Each alarm rate meter must:

5.14.6.1 Be checked to ensure that the alarm functions properly (sounds) prior to use at the start of each shift;

5.14.6.2 Be set to give an alarm signal at a preset dose rate of 500 mR/hr.;

5.14.6.3 Require special means to change the preset alarm function; and

5.14.6.4 Be calibrated at periods not to exceed one year for correct response to radiation: Acceptable rate meters must alarm within plus or minus 20 percent of the true radiation dose rate. Records of these calibrations must be maintained in accordance with RHA 5.14.7.2.

5.14.7 Each licensee shall maintain the following exposure records specified in RHA 5.14:

5.14.7.1 Direct reading dosimeter readings and yearly operability checks required by RHA 5.14.2 and 5.14.3 for 3 years after the record is made.

5.14.7.2 Records of alarm ratemeter calibrations for 3 years after the record is made.

5.14.7.3 Personnel dosimeter results must be retained until the Department terminates the license.

5.14.7.4 Records of estimates of exposures as a result of: off-scale personal direct reading dosimeters, or lost or damaged personnel dosimeters until the Department terminates the license.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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