South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-63 - Radioactive Materials (Title A) › Part XI - LICENSING AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS › Section 61-63.XI.RHA 11.22 - Detection of Leaking Sources

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
11.22.1 Each
				dry-source-storage sealed source must be tested for leakage at intervals not to
				exceed 6 months using a leak test kit or method approved by the Department. In the
				absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the 6
				months before the transfer, the sealed source may not be used until tested. The test
				must be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcurie (200 becquerels) of
				radioactive material and must be performed by a person approved by the Nuclear
				Regulatory Commission or an Agreement State to perform the test.
11.22.2 For pool irradiators, sources may not be
				put into the pool unless the licensee tests the sources for leaks or has a
				certificate from a transferor that a leak test has been done within the 6 months
				before the transfer. Water from the pool must be checked for contamination each day
				the irradiator operates. The check may be done either by using a radiation monitor
				on a pool water circulating system or by analysis of a sample of pool water. If a
				check for contamination is done by analysis of a sample of pool water, the results
				of the analysis must be available within 24 hours. If the licensee uses a radiation
				monitor on a pool water circulating system, the detection of above normal radiation
				levels must activate an alarm. The alarm set-point must be set as low as practical,
				but high enough to avoid false alarms. The licensee may reset the alarm set-point to
				a higher level if necessary to operate the pool water purification system to clean
				up contamination in the pool if specifically provided for in written emergency
				procedures.
11.22.3 If a leaking source
				is detected, the licensee shall arrange to remove the leaking source from service
				and have it decontaminated, repaired, or disposed of by an NRC or Agreement State
				licensee that is authorized to perform these functions. The licensee shall promptly
				check its personnel, equipment, facilities, and irradiated product for radioactive
				contamination. No product may be shipped until the product has been checked and
				found free of contamination. If a product has been shipped that may have been
				inadvertently contaminated, the licensee shall arrange to locate and survey that
				product for contamination. If any personnel are found to be contaminated,
				decontamination must be performed promptly. If contaminated equipment, facilities,
				or products are found, the licensee shall arrange to have them decontaminated or
				disposed of by an NRC or Agreement State licensee that is authorized to perform
				these functions. If a pool is contaminated, the licensee shall arrange to clean the
				pool until the contamination levels do not exceed the appropriate concentration in
				Table 2, Column 2, of Part III, RHA 3.53, Appendix B. (See RHA 2.32 for reporting
				requirements.)