N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-15.10 - Structural shielding and radiation safety surveys

(a) No person shall operate or permit the operation of x-ray equipment used in the healing arts unless permanent structural shielding and/or protective barriers are used as necessary to ensure that no person other than the patient being examined receives a dose in excess of the limits specified in N.J.A.C. 7:28-6.

(b) No person shall operate or permit the operation of x-ray equipment used in the healing arts unless the survey requirements listed below are met. To the extent that this section imposes more stringent requirements than the survey requirements in N.J.A.C. 7:28-7 and recordkeeping requirements in N.J.A.C. 7:28-8, the requirements of this section shall be followed.

1. The registrant of a medical ionizing-radiation-producing machine shall ensure that a qualified individual for the performance of radiation surveys for diagnostic x-ray equipment and therapy simulators performs or supervises the performance of a radiation safety survey of the environs and submits a copy of the radiation safety survey report to the Department within 60 days of the date the machine is acquired. The registrant shall maintain the original survey report for as long as the machine is registered plus one year and shall make the original survey report available to the Department during any inspection.

2. The registrant of a medical ionizing-radiation-producing machine shall ensure that a qualified individual for the performance of surveys for diagnostic x-ray equipment and therapy simulator systems performs or supervises the performance of a radiation safety survey of the environs when changes have been made to shielding, equipment, or equipment location which affect the radiation levels of the environs. A copy of the survey report shall be submitted to the Department within 60 days of the date of such change. The registrant shall maintain the original survey report for as long as the machine is registered plus one year and shall make the original survey report available to the Department during any inspection.

3. The minimum requirements for the information to be included in the radiation safety survey report are as follows:

i. The name of the registrant of the installation as listed on form VRH-001, address, telephone number, and room location of the unit;

ii. The New Jersey Registration Number, if available;

iii. The manufacturer, model number, generator serial number, control panel serial number, tube manufacturer, tube serial number, and tube housing number;

iv. The name and address of the qualified individual performing the survey;

v. The date of survey;

vi. The survey instrument manufacturer, model number, and date calibrated;

vii. A diagram or floor plan of the area indicating the x-ray tube location, exposure switch location, normal operator position, lead shielding if present, wall, floor, and ceiling construction, labeling all areas adjacent to the exposure room including those above and below, and labeling of all areas as to occupancy and use;

viii. Records of the measurement of radiation exposure with a suitable phantom in the average patient position. Measurements shall be taken at the operator's position and at all nearby locations which are normally occupied. For each measurement, the kVp, and mA, exposure time, instrument reading, and correction made to the instrument reading (such as energy response, calibration, etc.) shall be recorded; and

ix. Exposure rates at each measured location shall be converted into Coulombs/kilogram/week or mR/week. Records shall include all assumptions of workload, use and occupancy factors used in the calculations.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-15.10