N. C. Regulations for Protection Against Radiation

15A NCAC 11 .0502          DEFINITIONS

(a)  As used in this Section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)           "Annual refresher safety training" means a review conducted or provided by the licensee or registrant for its employees on radiation safety aspects of industrial radiography. The review may include, as appropriate, the results of internal inspections, new procedures or equipment, new or revised regulations, accidents or errors that have been observed, and shall also provide opportunities for employees to ask safety questions.

(2)           "Associated equipment" means equipment used in conjunction with a radiographic exposure device to make radiographic exposures that drives, guides or comes in contact with the sealed source or radiation  machines [e.g. guide tube, control tube, control (guide) tube, removable source stop, "J" tube and collimator when it is used as an exposure head].

(3)           "Cabinet radiography using radiation machines" means industrial radiography using radiation machines, which is conducted in an enclosed, interlocked cabinet, such that the radiation machine will not operate unless all openings are securely closed, and which cabinet is so shielded that every location on the exterior meets conditions for an unrestricted area as specified in Rule .1611 of this Chapter.

(4)           "Certifying entity" means an independent certifying organization meeting the requirements in Rule .0525 of this Section.

(5)           "Collimator" means a radiation shield that is placed on the end of the guide tube or directly onto a radiographic exposure device to limit the size, shape, and direction of the primary radiation when the sealed source is cranked into position, to make a radiographic exposure.

(6)           "Control device", commonly called a crank-out, means the control cable, the protective sheath and control drive mechanism used to move the sealed source from the shielded position in the radiographic device or camera to an unshielded position outside the device for the purpose of making a radiographic exposure.

(7)           "Control drive mechanism" means a device that enables the source assembly to be moved to and from the exposure device.

(8)           "Control tube" means a protective sheath for guiding the control cable. The control tube connects the control device mechanism to the radiographic exposure device.

(9)           "Exposure head", commonly called a source stop, means a device that locates the gamma radiography sealed source in the selected working position.

(10)         "Field examination" means a practical examination.

(11)         "Field station" means a facility where licensed material or registered equipment may be stored or used and from which licensed material or registered equipment is dispatched.

(12)         "Guide tube" (Projection sheath) means a flexible or rigid tube (i.e., "J" tube) for guiding the source assembly and the attached control cable from the exposure device to the exposure head.  The guide tube may also include the connections necessary for attachment to the exposure device and to the exposure head.

(13)         "Hands-on experience" means experience in all of those areas considered to be directly involved in the radiography process.

(14)         "Independent certifying organization" means an independent organization that meets all of the requirements of Rule .0525 of this Section.

(15)         "Industrial radiography" means the examination of the structure of materials by nondestructive methods utilizing ionizing radiation to make radiographic images.

(16)         "Lay-barge radiography" means industrial radiography performed on any water vessel used for laying pipe.

(17)         "Off-shore platform radiography" means industrial radiography conducted from a platform over a body of water.

(18)         "Periodic training" means a periodic review conducted or provided by the licensee or registrant for its employees on radiation safety aspects of radiography.  The review shall include the results of internal inspections, new procedures or equipment, accidents or errors that have been observed, and opportunities for employees to ask safety questions.

(19)         "Permanent radiographic installation" means an enclosed shielded room, cell, or vault not located at a temporary job-site in which radiography is performed.

(20)         "Projection sheath", means a guide tube.

(21)         "Practical examination" means a demonstration through practical application of the safety rules and principles in industrial radiography including the use of all appropriate equipment and procedures.

(22)         "Radiation safety officer" means an individual named by the licensee or registrant who has knowledge of and responsibility for the overall radiation safety program on behalf of the licensee or registrant and who meets the requirements of Rule .0510(h) of this Section.

(23)         "Radiographer" means any individual who performs or who, in attendance at the site where sources of radiation are being used, personally supervises industrial radiographic operations and who is responsible to the licensee or registrant for assuring compliance with the requirements of these Rules and all license or registration conditions.

(24)         "Radiographer certification" means written approval received from a certifying organization stating that an individual has satisfactorily met certain established radiation safety, testing, and experience criteria.

(25)         "Radiographer's assistant" means any individual who, under the direct supervision of a radiographer, uses radiographic exposure devices, sources of radiation, related handling tools, or survey instruments in industrial radiography.

(26)         "Radiographic exposure device", commonly called a camera or projector, means any instrument containing a sealed source fastened or contained therein, in which the sealed source or shielding thereof may be moved, or otherwise changed, from a shielded to unshielded position for purposes of making a radiographic exposure.

(27)         "Radiographic operations" means all activities associated with the presence of radioactive sources in a radiographic exposure device during use of the device or transport (except when being transported by a common or contract transport), to include surveys to confirm the adequacy of boundaries, setting up equipment and any activity inside restricted area boundaries.

(28)         "S-tube" means a tube through which the radioactive source travels when inside a radiographic exposure device.

(29)         "Sealed source" means any radioactive material that is encased in a capsule designed to prevent leakage or escape of the radioactive material.

(30)         "Shielded position" means the location within the radiographic exposure device or source changer where the sealed source is secured and restricted from movement.  This position incorporates maximum shielding for the sealed source.

(31)         "Source assembly" means an assembly that consists of the sealed source and a connector that attaches the source to the control cable.  The source assembly also includes the stop ball if one is used to secure the sealed source in the shielded position.  The connector attaches to the control cable.

(32)         "Source changer" means a device designed and used for replacement of sealed sources in radiographic exposure devices, including those also used for transporting and storage of sealed sources.

(33)         "Storage area" means any location, facility or vehicle which is used to store or secure a radiographic exposure device, a storage container or a sealed source when it is not in use and which is locked or has a physical barrier to prevent accidental exposure, tampering with or unauthorized removal of the device, storage container or sealed source.

(34)         "Storage container" means a device in which sealed sources are secured and stored.

(35)         "Temporary jobsite" means a location, radiographic operations are conducted and where licensed material may be stored other than those location(s) of use authorized on the license.

(36)         "Underwater radiography" means industrial radiography performed when the radiographic exposure device or related equipment are beneath the surface of the water.

(b)  Other definitions applicable to this Section may be found in Rule .0104 of this Chapter.

History Note:        Filed as a Temporary Amendment Eff. August 20, 1994, for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;

Authority G.S. 104E-7;

Eff. February 1, 1980;

Amended Eff. April 1, 1999; May 1, 1995; January 1, 1994; June 1, 1989.

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