| (9) Source return. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall verify that the source rack will automatically return to the fully shielded position if power is lost for more than 10 seconds. (10) Seismic. For panoramic irradiators to be built in seismic areas, the licensee shall design the reinforced concrete radiation shields to retain their integrity in the event of an earthquake by designing to the seismic requirements of an appropriate source such as American Concrete Institute Standard ACI 318-89, "Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete," Chapter 21, "Special Provisions for Seismic Design," or local building codes, if current. (11) Wiring. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall verify that electrical wiring and electrical equipment in the radiation room are selected to minimize failures due to prolonged exposure to radiation. (r) Construction monitoring and acceptance testing requirements. The following are construction monitoring and acceptance testing requirements to be met prior to loading sources in irradiators that have begun construction after August 1, 1996. (1) Shielding. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall monitor the construction of the shielding to verify that its construction meets design specifications and generally accepted building code requirements for reinforced concrete. (2) Foundations. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall monitor the construction of the foundations to verify that the foundation construction meets design specifications. (3) Pool integrity. For pool irradiators, the licensee shall verify that the pool meets design specifications and shall test the integrity of the pool. The licensee shall verify that outlets and pipes meet the requirements of subsection (n)(2) of this section. (4) Water handling system. For pool irradiators, the licensee shall verify that the water purification system, the conductivity meter, and the water level indicators operate properly. (5) Radiation monitors. For all irradiators, the licensee shall verify the proper operation of the monitor to detect sources carried on the product conveyor system and the related alarms and interlocks required by subsection (l)(1) of this section. For pool irradiators, the licensee shall verify the proper operation of the radiation monitors and the related alarm if used to meet subsection (w)(2) of this section. For underwater irradiators, the licensee shall verify the proper operation of the over-the-pool monitor, alarms, and interlocks required by subsection (l)(2) of this section. (6) Source rack. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall test the movement of the source racks for proper operation prior to source loading. Testing shall include source rack lowering due to simulated loss of power. For all irradiators with product conveyor systems, the licensee shall observe and test the operation of the conveyor system to assure that the requirements in subsection (o) of this section are met for protection of the source rack and the mechanism that moves the rack. Testing shall include tests of any limit switches and interlocks used to protect the source rack and mechanism that moves that rack from moving product carriers. (7) Access control. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall test the completed access control system to assure that it functions as designed and that all alarms, controls, and interlocks work properly. (8) Fire protection. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall test the ability of the heat and smoke detectors to detect a fire, to activate alarms, and to cause the source rack to automatically become fully shielded. The licensee shall test the operability of the fire extinguishing system. (9) Source return. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall demonstrate that the source racks can be returned to their fully shielded positions without power. (10) Computer systems. For panoramic irradiators that use a computer system to control the access control system, the licensee shall verify that the access control system will operate properly if power is lost and shall verify that the computer has security features that prevent an irradiator operator from commanding the computer to override the access control system when it is required to be operable. (11) Wiring. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall verify that the electrical wiring and electrical equipment that were installed meet the design specifications. (s) Training. (1) Before an individual is permitted to operate an irradiator without a supervisor present, who has completed the requirements of this paragraph and paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the individual shall be instructed in: (A) the fundamentals of radiation protection applied to irradiators (including the differences between external radiation and radioactive contamination, units of radiation dose, dose limits, why large radiation doses shall be avoided, how shielding and access controls prevent large doses, how an irradiator is designed to prevent contamination, the proper use of survey meters and individual monitoring devices, other radiation safety features of an irradiator, and the basic function of the irradiator); (B) the requirements of this section and §289.203 of this title that are relevant to the irradiator; (C) the operation of the irradiator; (D) those operating, safety, and emergency procedures listed in subsection (t) of this section that the individual is responsible for performing; and (E) case histories of accidents or problems involving irradiators. (2) Before an individual is permitted to operate an irradiator without a supervisor present, who has completed the requirements of this paragraph and paragraphs (1) and (3) of this subsection, the individual shall pass a written test on the instruction received consisting primarily of questions based on the licensee's operating, safety, and emergency procedures that the individual is responsible for performing and other operations necessary to safely operate the irradiator without supervision. (3) Before an individual is permitted to operate an irradiator without a supervisor present, who has completed the requirements of this paragraph and paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the individual shall have received on-the-job training or simulator training in the use of the irradiator as described in the license application. The individual shall also demonstrate the ability to perform those portions of the operating, safety, and emergency procedures that he or she is to perform. (4) The licensee shall conduct safety reviews for irradiator operators at least annually. The licensee shall give each operator a brief written test on the information. Each safety review shall include, to the extent appropriate, each of the following: (A) changes in operating, safety, and emergency procedures since the last review, if any; (B) changes in rules and license conditions since the last review, if any; (C) reports on recent accidents, mistakes, or problems that have occurred at irradiators, if any; (D) relevant results of inspections of operator safety performance; (E) relevant results of the facility's inspection and maintenance checks; and (F) a drill to practice an emergency or abnormal event procedure. (5) The licensee shall evaluate the safety performance of each irradiator operator at least annually to ensure that agency rules, license conditions, and operating, safety, and emergency procedures are followed. The licensee shall discuss the results of the evaluation with the operator and shall instruct the operator on how to correct any mistakes or deficiencies observed. (6) Individuals who will be permitted unescorted access to the radiation room of the irradiator or the area around the pool of an underwater irradiator, but who have not received the training required for operators and the RSO, shall be instructed and tested in any precautions they should take to avoid radiation exposure, any procedures or parts of procedures listed in subsection (t) of this section that they are expected to perform or comply with, and their proper response to alarms required in this section. Tests may be oral. (7) Individuals who shall be prepared to respond to alarms required by subsections (i)(2) and (9), (k), (l), and (w)(2) of this section shall be trained and tested on how to respond. Each individual shall be retested at least once a year. Tests may be oral. (t) Operating, safety, and emergency procedures. (1) The licensee shall have and follow written operating, safety, and emergency procedures for: (A) operation of the irradiator, including entering and leaving the radiation room; (B) use of individual monitoring devices; (C) surveying the shielding of panoramic irradiators; (D) monitoring pool water for contamination while the water is in the pool and before release of pool water to unrestricted areas; (E) leak testing of sources; (F) inspection and maintenance checks required by subsection (x) of this section; (G) loading, unloading, and repositioning sources, if the operations will be performed by the licensee; and (H) inspection of movable shielding required by subsection (i)(8) of this section, if applicable. (2) The licensee shall have and follow emergency or abnormal event procedures, appropriate for the irradiator type, for: (A) sources stuck in the unshielded position; (B) personnel overexposures; (C) a radiation alarm from the product exit portal monitor or pool monitor; (D) detection of leaking source, pool contamination, or alarm caused by contamination of pool water; (E) a low or high water level indicator, an abnormal water loss, or leakage from the source storage pool; (F) a prolonged loss of electrical power; (G) a fire alarm or explosion in the radiation room; (H) an alarm indicating unauthorized entry into the radiation room, area around pool, or another alarmed area; (I) natural phenomena, including an earthquake, a tornado, flooding, or other phenomena as appropriate for the geographical location of the facility; and (J) the jamming of automatic conveyor systems. (3) The licensee may revise operating, safety, and emergency procedures without agency approval only if all of the following conditions are met: (A) the revisions do not reduce the safety of the facility; (B) the revisions are consistent with the outline or summary of procedures including procedures for changes to operating, safety, and emergency procedures submitted with the license application; (C) the revisions have been reviewed and approved by the radiation safety officer; and (D) the users or operators are instructed and tested on the revised procedures before they are put into use. (4) Changes to operating, safety, and emergency procedures shall be submitted to the agency after the provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection are completed. (u) Personnel monitoring. (1) Irradiator operators shall wear an individual monitoring device that is processed and evaluated by an accredited National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) processor while operating a panoramic irradiator or while in the area around the pool of an underwater irradiator. The personnel dosimeter processor must be accredited for high-energy photons in the normal and accident dose ranges (see §289.202(p)(3) of this title). Each personnel dosimeter must be assigned to and worn by only one individual. Film badges must be processed at least monthly, and other personnel dosimeters must be processed at least quarterly. After replacement, each film badge, a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD), or optically stimulated luminescence device (OSL) shall be returned to the supplier for processing within 14 calendar days of the exchange date specified by the personnel monitoring supplier or as soon as practicable. In circumstances that make it impossible to return each film badge, TLD, or OSL within 14 calendar days, such circumstances shall be documented and available for review by the agency. (2) Other individuals who enter the radiation room of a panoramic irradiator shall wear a dosimeter, which may be a pocket dosimeter. For groups of visitors, only two people who enter the radiation room are required to wear dosimeters. If pocket dosimeters are used to meet the requirements of the paragraph, a check of their response to radiation shall be done at least annually. Acceptable dosimeters shall read within plus or minus 30% of the true radiation dose. (v) Radiation surveys. (1) A radiation survey of the area outside the shielding of the radiation room of a panoramic irradiator shall be conducted with the sources in the exposed position before the facility starts to operate. A radiation survey of the area above the pool of pool irradiators shall be conducted after the sources are loaded but before the facility starts to operate. Additional radiation surveys of the shielding shall be performed at intervals not to exceed three years and before resuming operation after addition of new sources or any modification to the radiation room shielding or structure that might increase dose rates. Cont'd... |
