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TITLE 25HEALTH SERVICES
PART 1DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER 289RADIATION CONTROL
SUBCHAPTER FLICENSE REGULATIONS
RULE §289.255Radiation Safety Requirements and Licensing and Registration Procedures for Industrial Radiography

(a) Purpose.

  (1) The requirements in this section establish radiation safety requirements and licensing and registration procedures for using sources of radiation for industrial radiography and for certification of industrial radiographers.

  (2) The requirements in this section apply to licensees and registrants who possess sources of radiation for industrial radiography, including radiation machines, accelerators, and sealed radioactive sources.

  (3) Each licensee and registrant is responsible for ensuring compliance with this chapter, license and registration conditions, and orders of the agency.

  (4) Each licensee and registrant is responsible for ensuring that radiographic personnel performing activities under a license or registration comply with this chapter, license and registration conditions, and orders of the agency.

(b) Scope.

  (1) The requirements of this section are in addition to and not in substitution for other applicable requirements of this chapter.

  (2) The requirements of the following sections of this chapter apply to all licensed industrial radiographic operations:

    (A) §289.201 of this title (relating to General Provisions for Radioactive Material);

    (B) §289.202 of this title (relating to Standards for Protection Against Radiation from Radioactive Materials);

    (C) §289.203 of this title (relating to Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers; Inspections);

    (D) §289.204 of this title (relating to Fees for Certificates of Registration, Radioactive Material Licenses, Emergency Planning and Implementation, and Other Regulatory Services);

    (E) §289.205 of this title (relating to Hearing and Enforcement Procedures);

    (F) §289.251 of this title (relating to Exemptions, General Licenses, and General License Acknowledgements);

    (G) §289.252 of this title (relating to Licensing of Radioactive Material); and

    (H) §289.257 of this title (relating to Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material).

  (3) The requirements of the following sections of this chapter apply to all registered industrial radiographic operations:

    (A) §289.203 of this title;

    (B) §289.204 of this title;

    (C) §289.205 of this title;

    (D) §289.226 of this title (relating to Registration of Radiation Machine Use and Services); and

    (E) §289.231 of this title (relating to General Provisions and Standards for Protection Against Machine-Produced Radiation).

  (4) The requirements of §289.228 of this title (relating to Radiation Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiation Machines) apply to persons using analytical and other industrial radiation machines subject to this section.

  (5) The requirements of §289.229 of this title (relating to Radiation Safety Requirements for Accelerators, Therapeutic Radiation Machines, Simulators and Electronic Brachytherapy Devices) apply to persons using accelerators subject to this section.

(c) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

  (1) Additional authorized use/storage site--Authorized use/storage locations specifically named on a license or certificate of registration other than the main site specified on a license or certificate of registration or other than temporary job sites.

  (2) ANSI--American National Standards Institute.

  (3) Annual refresher safety training--A review conducted or provided by the licensee or registrant for its employees on radiation safety aspects of industrial radiography. The review may include, as appropriate, the results of internal audits, new procedures or equipment, new or revised regulations, accidents or errors that have been observed, and should also provide opportunities for employees to ask safety questions.

  (4) Associated equipment--Equipment that is used in conjunction with a radiographic exposure device to make radiographic exposures that drives, guides, or comes in contact with the source, (such as, guide tube, control tube, control cable (drive cable), removable source stop, "J" tube and collimator when it is used as an exposure head).

  (5) Cabinet x-ray system--An x-ray system with the x-ray tube installed in an enclosure independent of existing architectural structures except the floor on which it may be placed. An x-ray tube used within a shielded part of a building, or x-ray equipment that may temporarily or occasionally incorporate portable shielding, is not considered a cabinet x-ray system. The cabinet x-ray system is intended to:

    (A) contain at least that portion of a material being irradiated;

    (B) provide radiation attenuation; and

    (C) exclude personnel from its interior during generation of radiation.

  (6) Certifiable cabinet x-ray system--An existing uncertified x-ray system that has been modified to meet the certification requirements specified in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §1020.40.

  (7) Certification identification (ID) card--The document issued by the agency to individuals who have completed the requirements stated in subsection (e)(2)(A) of this section.

  (8) Certified cabinet x-ray system--An x-ray system that has been certified in accordance with Title 21, CFR, §1010.2 as being manufactured and assembled on or after April 10, 1975, according to the provisions of Title 21, CFR, §1020.40.

  (9) Certifying entity--An entity that is:

    (A) an independent certifying organization;

    (B) an Agreement State whose industrial radiographer certification program meets the applicable parts of Title 10, CFR, Part 34, Appendix A, Parts II and III for radioactive material; or

    (C) a radiation control agency whose x-ray and/or combination certification requirements are found to be equivalent to criteria established by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directions, Inc. (CRCPD).

  (10) Collimator--A radiation shield that is placed on the end of a guide tube or directly onto a radiographic exposure device to restrict the size of the radiation beam when the sealed source is cranked into position to make a radiographic exposure.

  (11) Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc. (CRCPD)--A 501(c)(3) nonprofit non-governmental professional organization dedicated to radiation protection to serve as a common forum for the many governmental radiation protection agencies to communicate with each other and to promote uniform radiation protection regulations and activities.

  (12) Control cable (drive cable)--The cable that is connected to the source assembly and used to drive the source from and return it to the shielded position.

  (13) Control mechanism (drive mechanism)--A device that enables the source assembly to be moved from and returned to the shielded position. A drive mechanism is also known as a crank assembly.

  (14) Control tube--A protective sheath for guiding the control cable. The control tube connects the control drive mechanism to the radiographic exposure device.

  (15) Crank-out device--The control cable, control tube, and drive mechanism used to move the sealed source to and from the shielded position to make an industrial radiographic exposure.

  (16) Exposure head--A device that locates the gamma radiography sealed source in the selected working position. An exposure head is also known as a source stop.

  (17) Fluoroscopic imaging assembly--A subsystem in which x-ray photons produce a fluoroscopic image. It includes the image receptors such as the image intensifier and spot-film device, electrical interlocks, if any, and structural material providing linkage between the image receptor and source assembly.

  (18) GED--General educational development.

  (19) Guide tube--A flexible or rigid tube, such as a "J" tube, for guiding the source assembly and the attached control cable from the exposure device to the exposure head. The guide tube may also include the connections necessary for attachment to the exposure device and to the exposure head.

  (20) Independent certifying organization--An independent organization that meets all of the criteria of Title 10, CFR, Part 34, Appendix A, for radioactive material, or comparable standards for x-ray machines.

  (21) Industrial radiography (radiography)--A nondestructive testing method using ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays or x rays, to make radiographic images for the purpose of detecting flaws in objects without destroying them.

  (22) Lay-barge radiography--Industrial radiography performed on any water vessel used for laying pipe.

  (23) Lock-out survey--A radiation survey performed to determine that a sealed source is in its fully shielded position before moving the radiographic exposure device or source changer to a different temporary job site or before securing the radiographic exposure device or source changer against unauthorized removal.

  (24) Offshore--Within the territorial waters of the State of Texas. The territorial waters of Texas extend to the three marine league line or nine nautical miles from the Texas coast.

  (25) On-the-job training (hands-on experience)--Experience in all of the areas considered to be directly involved in the radiography process. The hours of on-the-job training do not include safety meetings, classroom training, travel, darkroom activities, film development and interpretation, or use of a cabinet x-ray unit.

  (26) Permanent radiographic installation--A shielded room, cell, or vault, not located at a temporary jobsite, in which radiography is performed and meets the criteria of subsection (n) of this section.

  (27) Permanent storage site--Any location that is specifically named on a license or certificate of registration and that is used only for storage of sources of radiation.

  (28) Personal supervision--Guidance and instruction provided to a radiographer trainee by a radiographer trainer who is present at the site, in visual contact with the trainee while the trainee is using sources of radiation, associated equipment, and survey meters, and in such proximity that immediate assistance can be given if required.

  (29) Pipeliners--A directional beam radiographic exposure device.

  (30) Platform radiography--Industrial radiography performed on an offshore platform or other structure over a body of water.

  (31) Practical examination--A demonstration through practical application of the safety rules and principles in industrial radiography including use of all appropriate equipment and procedures.

  (32) Radiation safety officer (RSO)--An individual named by the licensee or registrant who has a knowledge of, responsibility for, and authority to enforce appropriate radiation protection rules, standards, and practices on behalf of the licensee or registrant and who meets the requirements of subsection (e)(4) of this section.

  (33) Radiographer--Any individual who has successfully completed the training, testing, and documentation requirements of subsection (e)(2)(A) of this section and who is responsible to the licensee or registrant for assuring compliance with the requirements of the agency's regulations and conditions of the license or certificate of registration. These individuals may be referred to as certified industrial radiographers or certified radiographers. The individual may also:

    (A) perform industrial radiographic operations; or

    (B) be in attendance at the site where the sources of radiation are being used.

  (34) Radiographer certification--Written approval received from a certifying entity stating that an individual has satisfactorily met certain established radiation safety, testing, and experience criteria.

  (35) Radiographer trainee--Any individual who has successfully completed the training and documentation requirements of subsection (e)(1)(A) of this section and who shall use sources of radiation and associated equipment or radiation survey instruments under the personal supervision of a radiographer trainer.

  (36) Radiographer trainer--A radiographer who instructs and supervises radiographer trainees during on-the-job training and who meets the requirements of subsection (e)(3) of this section.

  (37) Radiographic exposure device--Any instrument containing a sealed source fastened or contained therein, in which the sealed source or shielding thereof may be moved, or otherwise changed, from a shielded to unshielded position for purposes of making a radiographic exposure (e.g., camera).

  (38) Radiographic operations--All activities associated with the presence of x-ray machines or radioactive sources in a radiographic exposure device during the use of the machine or device or transport (except when being transported by a common or contract transport). Radiographic operations include surveys to confirm the adequacy of boundaries, setting up equipment, and any activity inside restricted area boundaries.

  (39) Radiographic personnel--Any radiographer, radiographer trainer, or radiographer trainee.

Cont'd...

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