Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 180 - CONTROL OF RADIATION › Chapter 17 › Appendix 17-A - EXAMPLES OF SEVERITY LEVELS

Current through June 17, 2024
The following examples of severity levels apply to licensees or
	 registrants and are neither exhaustive nor controlling. They reflect only the
	 seriousness of the violation and not the intent of the violator, the history of
	 the violator, the amount necessary to deter future violations, or efforts to
	 correct the violation.
A. Severity I - Most Significant Violations.
1. Exposure of a worker in excess of 250 mSv (25 rems) of radiation to
	 the whole body, or 1.50 Sv (150 rems) to the skin of the whole body, or 3.75 Sv
	 (375 rems) to the feet, ankles, hands, or forearms;
2. Annual whole body exposure in excess of 25 mSv ( 2.5 rems) of
	 radiation to a non-radiation worker or a radiation worker who is a
	 minor;
3. Release of radioactive material to an unrestricted area(s) in excess
	 of ten times the limits specified in the rules;
4. Radiation levels, contamination levels, or releases that exceed ten
	 times the limits specified in the rules;
5. Disposal of licensed material into a sanitary sewage system in
	 quantities or concentrations which exceed ten times the limits of 180 NAC
	 4-041;
6. Exposure of a worker in a restricted area(s) to ten times the limits
	 of 180 NAC 4-005;
7. A required system or equipment designed to prevent or mitigate a
	 serious safety event or unnecessary exposure is absent or not operable due to a
	 deliberate act by the licensee or registrant (e.g., bypassing an
	 interlock);
8. A material false statement. This is a written or sworn statement
	 that is false and is relevant to the regulatory process;
9. Action by management to discriminate against an employee for
	 attempting to communicate or for actually communicating with the Department
	 pursuant to 180 NAC 10-007.03;
10. Deliberate exposure of an individual except by or under the
	 supervision of an individual licensed to engage in the healing arts;
11. Refusing authorized Department personnel access to facilities
	 and/or equipment to conduct inspections or investigations; or
12. Possession of licensable quantities of radioactive material without
	 a license.
B. Severity II - Very Significant Violations.
1. Single exposure of a worker in excess of 50 mSv (5 rems) of
	 radiation to the whole body, 300 mSv (30 rems) to the skin of the whole body,
	 or 750 mSv (75 rems) to the feet, ankles, hands or forearms;
2. Annual whole body exposure in excess of 5 mSv ( 0.5 rem) of
	 radiation to a non-radiation worker or radiation worker who is a minor;
3. Release of radioactive material to an unrestricted area in excess of
	 five times the limits of 180 NAC 4-014;
4. Radiation levels, contamination levels, or releases that exceed five
	 times the limits specified in the rules;
5. Failure to immediately notify the Department as required by 180 NAC
	 4-057.01, item 1 and 3, 4-058.01 item 1 and 2;
6. Unauthorized disposal of licensed material in quantities or
	 concentrations in excess of five times the limits of 180 NAC 4-041;
7. Exposure of a worker in a restricted area in excess of five times
	 the limits 180 NAC 4-005;
8. A required system or equipment designed to prevent or mitigate a
	 serious safety event or unnecessary exposure is absent or inoperable;
9. Failure to obtain appropriate Department approval before moving to a
	 new use and/or storage location;
10. A material false statement. This is a statement that is false by
	 omission and is relevant to the regulatory process;
11. Radiation output on fluoroscopic devices which exceed the limits in
	 180 NAC 6-005.03, item 1.
12. Absence of patient exposure reduction equipment required by Title
	 180.
13. Refusing authorized Department personnel access to records during
	 an inspection or investigation upon reasonable notice;
14. Loss of control of a source of radiation; or
15. Failure to register sources of radiation or services as required by
	 180 NAC.
C. Severity III - Significant Violations.
1. Single exposure of a worker in excess of 30 mSv (3 rems) of
	 radiation to the whole body, or 75 mSv ( 7.5 rems) to the skin of the whole
	 body, or 187.5 mSv ( 18.75 rems) to the feet, ankles, hands or forearms;
2. A radiation level in an unrestricted area such that an individual
	 could receive greater than 1.0 mSv (100 millirems) in a one-hour period or 5.0
	 mSv (500 millirems) in any seven consecutive days;
3. Failure to notify the Department within 24 hours as required by 180
	 NAC 4-058.02 or failure to notify the Department within 30 days as required by
	 180 NAC 4-057.01, item 2 or 4-59;
4. Substantial potential for an exposure or release in excess of the
	 limits of 180 NAC 4 (e.g., entry into high radiation areas without performing
	 an adequate survey; operation of a radiation facility with a nonfunctioning
	 interlock system);
5. Release of radioactive material to an unrestricted area in excess of
	 the limits of 180 NAC 4-014;
6. Unauthorized disposal of licensed material not covered in Severity
	 Levels I or II;
7. Exposure of a worker in restricted areas in excess of the limits of
	 180 NAC 4-005;
8. Release for unrestricted use of radioactive material or contaminated
	 equipment which poses a potential for significant exposure to members of the
	 public, or which reflects a programmatic rather than isolated weakness in the
	 radiation safety program;
9. Cumulative worker exposure above Title 180 limits when such exposure
	 reflects a programmatic rather than an isolated weakness in the radiation
	 safety program;
10. Conduct of licensee or registrant activities by an unauthorized or
	 an unqualified person;
11. Any noncompliance with posting, labeling, placarding, shipping
	 papers, packaging loading, or other transporting requirements that could result
	 in the following:
a. Improper identification of the type, quantity, or form of
	 material,
b. Failure of the carrier or recipient to exercise adequate controls,
	 or
c. Substantial potential for personnel exposure or contamination, or
	 improper transfer of material;
12. Failure to control access to licensed materials as specified by
	 Department rules;
13. Possession or use by licensee or registrant of unauthorized
	 radiation machine or radioactive material in conducting registrant or licensee
	 activities;
14. Radiation levels, contamination levels, or releases that exceed the
	 limits specified in the license;
15. Failure to use exposure reduction devices properly (e.g.,
	 collimators, filtration); or
16. Failure to hospitalize patients who have sealed source implants or
	 therapeutic quantities of radioactive material in accordance with the license
	 or license conditions;
D. Severity IV - Violations.
1. Exposure in excess of the limits of 180 NAC 4-005 not constituting
	 Severity I, II, or III violations;
2. A radiation level in an unrestricted area such that an individual
	 could receive greater than 0.02 mSv (2 millirems) in any one-hour period or 1.0
	 mSv (100 millirems) in any year;
3. Failure to notify the Department within 30 days as required by 180
	 NAC 4-059.
4. Failure to make a follow-up written report to the Department as
	 required by 180 NAC 4-057.02, 4-063 or 10-004.
5. Failure to conduct required leakage or contamination tests or to use
	 properly calibrated equipment.
6. Unless specified in a more severe category, changes in procedures or
	 other conditions of a license or certificate of registration of which the
	 Department was not informed (e.g., change of address, expiration of certificate
	 of registration); or
7. Failure to maintain complete records and/or forms required by
	 Nebraska's Regulations for Control of Radiation - Ionizing.
E. Severity V - Minor Violations.
1. Failure to maintain a current copy of Title 180 and current copies
	 of active licenses and/or certificates of registration;
2. Failure to post Title 180 notices required by 180 NAC 10-002; or
Other violations that have minor safety or environmental
	 significance.