N. C. Regulations for Protection Against Radiation

15A NCAC 11 .0360          SURVEYS OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL AREAS FOR RADIATION EXPOSURE RATE

(a)  A licensee shall survey with a radiation detection survey instrument at the end of each day of use all areas where radiopharmaceuticals are routinely prepared for use or administered.

(b)  A licensee shall conduct the survey required by Paragraph (a) of this Rule so as to be able to detect dose rates as low as 0.1 millirem (1 microsievert) per hour.

(c)  A licensee shall establish radiation dose rate trigger levels for the surveys required by Paragraph (a) of this Rule.  A licensee shall require the individual performing the survey to promptly notify the Radiation Safety Officer if a dose rate exceeds a trigger level.

(d)  A licensee shall retain a record of the survey required by this Rule for three years.  The record shall include:

(1)           the date of the survey;

(2)           a plan of each area surveyed;

(3)           the trigger level established for each area;

(4)           the detected dose rate at several points in each area surveyed expressed in millirem (or microsievert) per hour;

(5)           the instrument used to make the survey; and

(6)           the initials of the individual who performed the survey.

(e)  Any licensee authorized by the rules of this Chapter to manufacture, produce, acquire, receive, possess, use or transfer radioactive material for medical use shall have in its possession a calibrated portable radiation survey instrument capable of detecting dose rates over the range of 0.1 millirem per hour (1 microsievert per hour) to 100 millirem per hour (.01 millisievert per hour), and a portable radiation survey instrument capable of measuring dose rates over the range of one millirem per hour (.01 millisievert per hour) to 1,000 millirem per hour (10 millisievert per hour).  A licensee shall calibrate the survey instruments used to show compliance with this Section before first use, annually, and following repair.  The licensee shall:

(1)           calibrate all scales with readings up to 1,000 millirem (10 millisievert) per hour with a radiation source;

(2)           calibrate two separated readings on each scale that must be calibrated; and

(3)           conspicuously note on the instrument the apparent exposure rate from a dedicated check source as determined at the time of calibration, and the date of calibration.

(f)  When calibrating a survey instrument, the licensee shall consider a point as calibrated if the indicated exposure rate differs from the calculated exposure rate by not more than 20 percent.

(g)  A licensee shall check each survey instrument for proper operation with the dedicated check source each day of use. A licensee is not required to keep records of these checks.

(h)  A licensee shall retain a record of each survey instrument calibration for three years.  The record must include:

(1)           a description of the calibration procedure; and

(2)           the date of the calibration, a description of the source used and the certified exposure rates from the source, and the rates indicated by the instrument being calibrated, the correction factors deduced from the calibration data, and the identity of the individual who performed the calibration.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 104E-7; 104E-10(b); 104E-12;

Eff. April 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2007.

NC Radiation Protection, 1645 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, NC  27699-1645  919-571-4141  Fax  919-571-4148