Section 1700. Authority and responsibilities for the radiation protection programs and changes

Article 3. General Administrative Requirements

A. In addition to the radiation protection program requirements of 12VAC5-481-630, the licensee's management or designee shall approve, in writing:

1. Requests for a license application, renewal, or amendment before submittal to the agency;

2. Any individual before allowing that individual to work as an authorized user, authorized nuclear pharmacist, or an authorized medical physicist; and

3. Radiation protection program changes that do not require a license amendment and are permitted under subsection F of this section.

B. The licensee's management shall appoint a radiation safety officer (RSO) who agrees, in writing, to be responsible for implementing the radiation protection program. This written document shall establish the authority, duties, and responsibilities of the RSO. Licensees, through the RSO, shall ensure that radiation safety activities are being performed in accordance with licensee-approved procedures and regulatory requirements. Licensees shall provide the RSO sufficient authority, organization freedom, time, resources, and management prerogative to:

1. Identify radiation safety problems;

2. Initiate, recommend, or provide corrective actions;

3. Stop unsafe operations; and

4. Verify implementation of corrective actions.

C. For up to 60 days each year, licensees may permit an authorized user or an individual qualified to be a RSO, under 12VAC5-481-1750 and 12VAC5-481-1790, to function as a temporary radiation safety officer, as provided in subsection G if the licensee takes the actions required in subsections B, E, G, and H of this section and notifies the agency in accordance with 12VAC5-481-1690 B.

D. Licensees may simultaneously appoint more than one temporary RSO in accordance with subsection C of this section, if needed to ensure that the temporary RSO satisfies the requirements to be a RSO for each of the different types of uses of radioactive material permitted by the licensee.

E. Licensees that are authorized for two or more different types of uses of radioactive material under Articles 6, 7, and 9 of this part, or two or more types of units under 12VAC5-481-2040 B, shall establish a Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) to oversee all uses of radioactive material permitted by the license. The RSC shall include an authorized user for each type of use permitted by the license, the RSO, a representative of the nursing service, and a representative of management who is neither an authorized user nor a RSO. The RSC may include other members the licensee considers appropriate.

F. A licensee may revise its radiation protection program without agency approval if:

1. The revision does not require a license amendment under 12VAC5-481-450 or 12VAC5-481-1680;

2. The revision is in compliance with this chapter and the license;

3. The revision has been reviewed and approved by the RSO and licensee management; and

4. The affected individuals are instructed on the revised program before the changes are implemented.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.