Section 2840. Operating and emergency procedures

A. Licensees shall have and follow written operating procedures for:

1. Operation of the irradiator, including entering and leaving the radiation room;

2. Use of personnel dosimeters;

3. Surveying the shielding of panoramic irradiators;

4. Monitoring pool water for contamination while the water is in the pool and before release of pool water to unrestricted areas;

5. Leak testing of sources;

6. Inspection and maintenance checks required by 12VAC5-481-2880;

7. Loading, unloading, and repositioning sources if the operations will be performed by the licensee; and

8. Inspection of movable shielding required by 12VAC5-481-2730, if applicable.

B. Licensees shall have and follow written emergency or abnormal event procedures appropriate for the irradiator type for:

1. Sources stuck in the unshielded position;

2. Personnel overexposures;

3. A radiation alarm from the product exit portal monitor or pool monitor;

4. Detection of leaking sources, pool contamination, or alarm caused by contamination of pool water;

5. A low or high water level indicator, an abnormal water loss, or leakage from the source storage pool;

6. A prolonged loss of electrical power;

7. A fire alarm or explosion in the radiation room;

8. An alarm indicating unauthorized entry into the radiation room, area around pool, or another alarmed area;

9. Natural phenomena, including an earthquake, a tornado, flooding, or other phenomena as appropriate for the geographical location of the facility; and

10. The jamming of automatic conveyor systems.

C. Licensees may revise operating and emergency procedures without agency approval only if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The revisions do not reduce the safety of the facility;

2. The revisions are consistent with the outline or summary of procedures submitted with the license application;

3. The revisions have been reviewed and approved by the radiation safety officer; and

4. The users or operators are instructed and tested on the revised procedures before they are put into use.

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.