New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 20 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 3 - RADIATION PROTECTION › Part 5 - RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS › Section 20.3.5.24 - LEAK TESTING, REPAIR, TAGGING, OPENING, MODIFICATION, AND REPLACEMENT OF SEALED SOURCES

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. The
				replacement of any sealed source fastened to or contained in a radiographic
				exposure device and leak testing, repair, tagging, opening, or any other
				modification of any sealed source shall be performed only by persons
				specifically authorized to do so by the Department.
B. Each sealed source shall be tested for
				leakage at intervals not to exceed six months. In the absence of a certificate
				from a transferor indicating that a test has been made within the six-month
				period prior to the transfer, the sealed source shall not be put into use until
				tested.
C. The leak test shall be
				capable of detecting the presence of 185 becquerels (0.005 microcuries) of
				removable contamination on the sealed source. An acceptable leak test for
				sealed sources in the possession of a radiography licensee would be to test at
				the nearest accessible point to the sealed source storage position, or other
				appropriate measuring point, by a procedure to be approved pursuant to Part 3
				of 20.3 NMAC. Records of leak test results shall be kept in units of becquerels
				or microcuries and maintained for inspection by the Department for 3
				years.
D. Any test conducted
				pursuant to Subsections B and C of 20.3.5.24 NMAC that reveals the presence of
				185 becquerels (0.005 microcuries) or more of removable radioactive material
				shall be considered evidence that the sealed source is leaking. The licensee
				shall immediately withdraw the equipment involved from use and shall cause it
				to be decontaminated and repaired or to be disposed of in accordance with 20.3
				NMAC. Within 5 days after obtaining results of the test, the licensee shall
				file a report with the Department describing the equipment involved, the test
				results, and the corrective action taken.
E. A sealed source which is not fastened to
				or contained in a radiographic exposure device shall have permanently attached
				to it a square durable tag at least 2.5 cm on each side bearing the prescribed
				radiation caution symbol in conventional colors, magenta or purple on a yellow
				background, and at least the instructions: "Danger - Radioactive Material - Do
				Not Handle - Notify Civil Authorities if Found."
F. Each exposure device using depleted
				uranium (DU) shielding and an "S" tube configuration must be tested for DU
				contamination at intervals not to exceed 12 months. The analysis must be
				capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 microcuries) of radioactive
				material on the test sample and must be performed by a person specifically
				authorized by the Department to perform the analysis. Should such testing
				reveal the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 microcuries) or more of removable DU
				contamination, the exposure device must be removed from use until an evaluation
				of the wear on the S-tube has been made. Should the evaluation reveal that the
				S-tube is worn through, the device may not be used again. DU shielded devices
				do not have to be tested for DU contamination while in storage and not in use.
				Before using or transferring such a device however, the device must be tested
				for DU contamination if the interval of storage exceeded 12 months. Records of
				DU leak tests results shall be kept in units of microcuries (becquerels) and
				maintained for inspection by the Department for 3 years.