New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR › Chapter I - Industrial Board Of Appeals › Subchapter A - The Industrial Code › Part 38 - Ionizing Radiation Protection › Section 38.22 - Surveys, checks and tests

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a)
				  Surveys--general. Each person who possesses any radiation source shall make, or
				  cause to be made, the applicable surveys required under this section and such
				  additional surveys as may be necessary for such person to comply with other
				  provisions of this Part (rule).
(b)
				  Instrumentation. Each person required to perform a survey by this Part (rule)
				  shall be provided with or have available appropriate calibrated and operable
				  instruments capable of detecting and measuring radiation.
(c) Radiation equipment--surveys. Every
				  installation and mobile source wherein radiation equipment is to be used shall
				  be surveyed during the initial operation of such equipment and whenever any
				  change is made in such installation or mobile source or in its use that might
				  increase the radiation level to which an individual could be exposed. When
				  vibrations or other physical conditions exist in such installations or mobile
				  sources which may cause changes in the protective features, surveys shall be
				  made at least every six months.
(d)
				  Radioactive materials--surveys. Any installation wherein radioactive materials
				  are handled or installed which has any readily accessible area in which there
				  is reasonable expectation that a radiation level will exist in excess of 2
				  millirems per hour, or any mobile source which could create such a radiation
				  level, shall be surveyed during the initial operation and whenever any change
				  is made in such installation or mobile source or in its use that might increase
				  the radiation level to which an individual could be exposed.
(e) Unsealed sources--surveys. Radiation
				  installations wherein radioactive material not contained in a sealed source is
				  handled or installed shall be surveyed at least once a month for radioactive
				  contamination. With regard to radioactive contamination of surfaces, compliance
				  with section
				  38.17(a) 
				  of this Part (rule) may be assumed if the limits specified in Table 5 of
				  section
				  38.41  of
				  this Part (rule) are met.
(f)
				  Sealed sources--leak test.
(1) Each sealed
				  source containing radioactive material other than hydrogen 3, with a half life
				  greater than 30 days and in any form other than gas, shall be tested for
				  leakage prior to initial use and at successive intervals thereafter not
				  exceeding six months, except that each source designed for the purpose of
				  emitting alpha particles shall be tested at intervals not exceeding three
				  months. Notwithstanding the periodic leak test required by this paragraph, any
				  licensed sealed source is exempt from such leak tests when the source contains
				  3.7 MBq (100 microcuries) or less of beta and/or gamma emitting material or 370
				  kBq (10 microcuries) or less of alpha emitting material. Except for alpha
				  sources, the periodic leak test required by this paragraph shall not apply to
				  sealed sources that are stored and not being used. The sources excepted from
				  this requirement shall be tested for leakage prior to any use or transfer to
				  another person unless they have been leak tested within six months prior to the
				  date of use or transfer. In the absence of the delivery of a certificate by the
				  transferor to the transferee indicating that a test pursuant to the applicable
				  provisions of this Part (rule) was made within six months prior to the
				  transfer, the source shall not be used until tested for leakage. If there is
				  reason to suspect that a sealed source might have been damaged, or might be
				  leaking, such source shall be tested for leakage before further use.
(2) The test sample shall be taken from
				  selected accessible surfaces of the sealed source or from surfaces of the
				  device in which the source is permanently mounted or stored. The selected
				  surfaces should be those on which contamination would be expected to accumulate
				  if the source was leaking. Where applicable, the test sample shall be taken
				  with the source in the " off"position.
(3) The leak test technique shall be capable
				  of detecting 185 Bq (0.005 microcurie) of removable radioactivity, or from
				  sealed radium sources, the escape of radon at the rate of 37 Bq (0.001
				  microcuries) per 24 hours.
(4)
				  Detection of a leak in any sealed source in excess of the sensitivity levels
				  set forth in this subdivision shall result in immediate suspension of the use
				  of such source until it is decontaminated and repaired or disposed of in
				  accordance with section
				  38.20 
				  of this Part (rule).
(5) Records of
				  leak test results shall be kept in units of microcuries per test sample and
				  maintained for inspection by the commissioner. A report shall be submitted to
				  the commissioner for each source found to be leaking in excess of the above
				  sensitivity levels within five days of detection of the leak and shall describe
				  the equipment involved, the test results, and the corrective actions
				  taken.