Section 1750. Training for radiation safety officer

Except as provided in 12VAC5-481-1780, licensees shall require an individual fulfilling the responsibilities of the radiation safety officer (RSO) as provided in 12VAC5-481-1700 to be an individual who:

1. Is certified by a specialty board who has been recognized by the NRC; or

2. Has completed a structured educational program consisting of provisions, as follows:

a. 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas:

(1) Radiation physics and instrumentation;

(2) Radiation protection;

(3) Mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity;

(4) Radiation biology; and

(5) Radiation dosimetry; and

b. One year of full-time radiation safety experience under the supervision of the individual identified as the RSO on an agency, NRC, or another agreement state license or permit issued by a master material licensee that authorizes similar types of uses of radioactive material involving the following:

(1) Shipping, receiving, and performing related radiation surveys;

(2) Using and performing checks for proper operation of instruments used to determine the activity of dosages, survey meters, and instruments used to measure radionuclides;

(3) Securing and controlling radioactive material;

(4) Using administrative controls to avoid mistakes in the administration of radioactive material;

(5) Using procedures to prevent or minimize radioactive contamination and using proper decontamination procedures;

(6) Using emergency procedures to control radioactive material; and

(7) Disposing of radioactive material; or

3. Meets the following qualifications:

a. Is a medical physicist who has been certified by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the NRC under 12VAC5-481-1760 A 1 and has experience in radiation safety for similar types of use of radioactive material for which the licensee is seeking the approval of the individual as RSO and who meets the requirements in subdivisions 4 and 5 of this section; or

b. Is an authorized user, authorized medical physicist, or authorized nuclear pharmacist identified on the license and has experience with the radiation safety aspects of similar types of use of radioactive material for which the individual has RSO responsibilities; and meets subdivisions 4 and 5 of this section; and

4. Has training in the radiation safety, regulatory issues, and emergency procedures for the types of use for which a licensee seeks approval. This training requirement may be satisfied by completing training that is supervised by a RSO, authorized medical physicist, authorized nuclear pharmacist, or authorized user, as appropriate, who is authorized for the types of use for which the licensee is seeking approval; and

5. Has obtained written attestation, signed by a preceptor RSO, that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in subdivisions 1, 2, or 3; and 4 of this section, and has achieved a level of radiation safety knowledge sufficient to function independently as a RSO for a medical use licensee.

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.