12VAC5-481-2840. 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.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register 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.