To all Pennsylvania Mobile Medical X-ray Registrants
The Department of Environmental Protection is issuing this information notice (IN) to bring to the attention of all X-ray registrants, and in particular mobile X-ray registrants, the regulations and requirements for X-ray screening of asymptomatic individuals.
The Department has jurisdiction over this activity in its regulatory authority over radiation-producing equipment when the equipment is being used in an inappropriate manner. This regulatory framework is set forth in 25 PA Code Section 215.1 (relating to purpose and scope).
To all Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) specific and general fixed gauge licensees.
Fixed gauges containing licensed radioactive materials are used by specific and general licensees in a wide variety of environments. Fixed gauges routinely operate in a continuous mode with the shutter open, exposing the radioactive source inside. During normal facility operations the use of such gauges produces little or no radiation exposure to operating personnel. During maintenance activities, however, equipment may be opened or partially disassembled, creating the significant potential for radiation exposure to workers.
This Information Notice (IN) reminds gauge users of the requirements in lockout/tagout procedures to prevent uncontrolled exposure of personnel to radiation. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar incidents.
Recommendations contained in this IN are not new; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. This notice is based on a 2009 event which resulted in exposures to non-radiation workers conducting welding and other fabrication activities in the vicinity of fixed gauges due to apparent inadequate lockout/tagout procedures.
It is expected that recipients (i.e., Pennsylvania DEP specific and general fixed gauge licensees) will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar incidents. Recommendations contained in this IN are not new DEP requirements; therefore, neither specific action nor written response is required.
Fixed gauges containing licensed radioactive materials are used by specific and general licensees in a wide variety of environments. Fixed gauges routinely operate in a continuous mode with the shutter open, exposing the radioactive source inside, this increases the chances of corrosion, the buildup of rust, or debris to affect the ability of the shutter to close.
Licensees who possess fixed gauges with shutters are required to test their shutters to ensure that they can be closed. This requirement is imposed by license condition for specific licensees and for general licensees the requirement is found in 10 CFR 31.5 (c)(2), incorporated by reference in Pa. Code Title 25 § 217.142. The typical timeframe for conducting a shutter check is every six months, which is acceptable for most applications where fixed gauges are used.
To all medical facilities performing high-dose diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures and all radioactive material specific licensees within Pennsylvania and regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Radiation Protection (BRP).
A request for feedback regarding the potential impacts associated with changes to radiation protection standards currently defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and incorporated by reference in Pa. Code Title 25 Sec. 219.5
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) establishes occupational dose limits and is considering lowering the limits to those recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP)Publication 103. The current dose limit for an occupational radiation worker is 50 mSv/yr (5 rem/yr) and the fetal dose to a declared pregnant worker is 5 mSv (0.5 rem). ICRP is recommending 20 mSv/yr (2 rem/yr) and 1 mSv (0.1 rem), respectively.
To all Pennsylvania portable nuclear gauge licensees. This information notice alerts all portable nuclear gauge licensees of recent incidents involving violations of radiation safety requirements, license conditions and U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) hazardous material regulations.
Licensees are responsible for compliance with physical security, radiation safety and hazardous materials shipping requirements. If licensees are unsure of specific areas of compliance there are a number of technical resources available.
To all Pennsylvania irradiator licensees and irradiator service providers. This information notice alerts of a contamination event that occurred during a non-routine maintenance operation on a Gammacell 40 blood irradiator. It is expected that all Pennsylvania irradiator licensees and service providers will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar incidents.
To all Industrial Radiography, Nuclear Pharmacy, and certain other licensees subject to reporting individual monitoring results under 10 CFR 20.2206. (Program Codes 2500, 2511, 2513, 3211, 3212, 3214, 3310, and 3320): To clarify reporting requirements for individual monitoring of workers by licensees subject to 10 CFR 20.2206 and to clarify potentially conflicting portions of 25 Pa. Code 219.5 and 219.6.
To all medical facilities performing high-dose diagnostic and/or terapeutic procedures within Pennsylvania and regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Radiation Protection (BRP): To alert medical facilities of the potential radiological hazards and "medical event" reporting requirements associated with certain patient radiation exposures that may result from unnecessary, inappropriate or improperly calibrated medical diagnostic or therapeutic X-ray or accelerator procedures and devices.
To all U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) specific and renewal fixed gauge materials licensees, all Agreement State Radiation Control Program Directors and State Liaison Officers: To alert fixed gauge specific and general licensees about the potential for the failure of shutter closure mechanisms on fixed gauges and the requirements for reporting these events to the NRC. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar incidents.
While unnecessary radiation exposure should be avoided, a medically-needed CT scan has benefits that outweigh the radiation risks. Patients should follow their doctor’s recommendations for receiving CT scans.
Bureau of Radiation Protection supports the Image Gently Campaign
Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Radiation Protection, along with the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) is participating with The Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging in promoting a new campaign known as the Image Gently Campaign. The goal is to change practice by increasing awareness of the opportunities to lower radiation dose in the imaging of children. There were over 4 million pediatric CT scans in 2006, and the number continues to increase! The coalition encourages facilities to "child-size" their technique, not over-scan, and work as a team to optimize technique. Additional information, such as, the latest research and educational materials to help imaging providers determine the appropriate radiation techniques to use in the imaging of children and helpful protocols may be accessed via The Image Gently Web site: www.imagegently.org.
New NRC guidance recommends that patients given therapeutic doses of radioactive iodine-131 should avoid direct or indirect contact (for example, through shared living space) with infants and young children for a specific period of time following the therapy. The guidance also recommends that physicians should consider hospitalizing patients whose living conditions may result in the contamination of infants and young children.