Section 30336.1 - Requirements for Field Radiography(a) A user conducting field radiography shall designate an individual as the radiation safety officer. This individual shall meet the criteria specified in section 30336.7.(b) Except as provided in subsection (e), field radiography shall not be performed unless: (1) Performed by radiographic personnel; and(2) There are at least two radiographic personnel one of whom is a radiation machine radiographer. If one of the personnel is a radiation machine radiographer's assistant, the other shall be a radiation machine radiographer trainer; and(3) During each radiographic operation, radiographic personnel maintain visual surveillance of the operation to protect against unauthorized entry into a high radiation area.(c) Except as provided in subsection (e), a user shall not allow any individual to act as a radiation machine radiographer unless the individual:(1) Is a certified radiation machine radiographer or is in compliance with section 30335.3; and(2) Has met the requirements of section 30336.5(a)(1).(d) Except as provided in subsection (e), a user shall not allow any individual to act as a radiation machine radiographer's assistant unless the individual meets the requirements of section 30336.5(a)(1) and is under personal supervision of a radiation machine radiographer trainer or the radiation safety officer as required pursuant to subsection (o).(e) The requirements of subsections (b), (c), (d), (n) and (o) do not apply if: (1) Field radiography is performed with a radiation machine that is not capable of exceeding an operating potential of 150 kVp;(2) The operator of the radiation machine has received at least eight hours of instruction in, and demonstrated, by successful completion of a written examination, an understanding of the following subjects. The examination shall be at least 50 questions in length. Successful completion shall be correctly answering at least 80 percent of the questions in a closed-book testing session: (A) Characteristics of X-radiation;(B) Units of radiation dose;(D) Radiation levels from radiation machines;(E) Methods of controlling radiation exposure: time, distance, and shielding;(F) Use of radiation survey instruments: operation, calibration, and limitations;(G) Radiation survey techniques;(H) Characteristics and use of personnel monitoring equipment; and(I) Use of radiation machines in radiography; and(3) The operator has demonstrated competence to safely use the radiation machine in the kinds of radiographic operations that will be performed. Demonstration shall be by successful completion of a practical examination covering this material. Instruction in this material shall be at least four hours long.(f) Each user shall implement, keep current, and maintain written operating procedures for the kinds of radiation machines and the kinds of radiographic procedures employed. These procedures shall include detailed instructions in at least the following: (1) Means to be employed to control and limit exposure to individuals;(2) Methods and occasions for conducting radiation surveys and for controlling access to radiography areas; and(3) The use of radiation survey instruments and personnel monitoring devices.(g) Radiographic operations shall not be performed unless, for each radiation machine energized, at least one radiation survey instrument, which meets the requirements of section 30332.3, capable of measuring radiation of the energies and at the dose rates to be encountered is available and used. Each registrant shall perform visual and operability checks on all survey instruments before use on each day the radiographic equipment is to be used to ensure that the radiographic equipment is in good working condition. Survey instrument operability shall be performed using a radiation source. If equipment problems are found, the equipment shall be removed from service until repaired.(h) Areas in which field radiography is being performed shall be conspicuously posted as required by title 10 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 20, subpart J incorporated by reference in section 30253. The limits of a high radiation area need not be separately defined and posted if the surrounding radiation area is posted and controlled as a high radiation area.(i) The boundaries of the controlled area for each "setup" shall be determined by a radiation survey during the first radiographic exposure to confirm that subsection (e) has been met and that unrestricted areas do not have radiation levels in excess of the limits specified in 10 CFR 20, subpart D incorporated by reference in section 30253. A radiation survey shall be made after each radiographic exposure to determine that the radiation machine is "off." Survey results and records of boundary locations shall be maintained for three years and kept available for inspection.(j) Protection against unauthorized entry into a high radiation area shall be controlled in accordance with section 20.1601(a) through (d) of 10 CFR 20 incorporated by reference in section 30253.(k) Each user shall maintain current utilization logs, which shall be maintained for three years and kept available for inspection, containing the following information for each radiation machine: (1) The identity of the machine;(2) The location, date, and the identity of the individual operator for each use; and(3) The voltage, current, and exposure time for each use.(l) All requirements of section 30333.2 apply.(m) Radiation machines used in field radiography shall meet the requirements specified in American National Standard N537-1976 "Radiological Safety Standard for the Design of Radiographic and Fluoroscopic Industrial X-ray Equipment" published as NBS Handbook 123, issued August 1977 [FN*], which is incorporated by reference.(n) Unless exempted pursuant to subsection (e), field radiography shall not be performed unless, during radiographic operations:(1) Each radiographer has in their possession the identification (ID) card issued to them by the Department and the ID card is current and valid or the radiographer is in compliance with section 30335.3(a); and(2) Each radiographer's assistant has in their possession the ID card issued to them by the registrant pursuant to section 30336.5(a)(2).(o) Unless exempted pursuant to subsection (e), whenever a radiation machine radiographer's assistant (RA) uses radiation machines or conducts radiation surveys to determine that the radiation machine is "off," the RA shall be under the personal supervision of a radiation machine radiographer trainer or the radiation safety officer. The personal supervision shall include: (1) The radiographer trainer's physical presence at the site where the radiation machine is being used;(2) The ability of the radiographer trainer to give immediate assistance if required; and(3) The radiographer trainer's watching the RA's performance of the operations referred to in this section.(p) If a user possesses a radiation machine such that an individual could, in a single exposure to the primary beam with the machine set at maximum exposure factors, receive an exposure exceeding 10 percent of the occupational dose limits specified in title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20, subpart C incorporated by reference in section 30253, the user shall establish and maintain an internal inspection program to ensure radiographers and radiographers' assistants comply with this regulation and registration conditions and the registrant's operating and emergency procedures. The inspection program shall include or provide: (1) Observation of the performance of each radiographer and radiographer's assistant during an actual radiographic operation at intervals not to exceed six months;(2) That, if a radiographer or a radiographer's assistant has not participated in a radiographic operation for more than six months since the last inspection, that individual's performance shall be observed and recorded the next time the individual participates in a radiographic operation; and(3) Retention of inspection records on the performance of radiographers or radiographers' assistants for three years.(q) Each user shall provide annual refresher safety training to each radiographer and radiographer's assistant at intervals not to exceed 12 months. This training shall, at a minimum, address or provide: (1) If an inspection program is required pursuant to subsection (p), results of internal inspections;(2) Results of Department inspections;(3) New procedures or equipment;(4) New or revised regulations about industrial radiography using radiation machines;(5) Accidents or errors that have been observed and steps to prevent recurrence; and(6) Opportunities for individuals to ask safety questions.(r) Unless otherwise stated in this section, documentation demonstrating compliance with this section shall be maintained for three years and available for inspection.[FN*] Copies of American National Standard N537-1976 "Radiological Safety Standard for the Design of Radiographic and Fluoroscopic Industrial X-ray Equipment" (published as NBS Handbook 123, issued August 1977) may be purchased from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 25 West 43rd Street, New York, New York 10036 or from IHS Standards Store at "http://global.ihs.com." Insert "NBS HDBK 123" for the document number in the Standards Search box.
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 30336.1
1. New section filed 4-11-2008; operative 5-11-2008 (Register 2008, No. 15).
2. Amendment of subsections (p) and (p)(3), footnote and NOTE filed 12-30-2014; operative 4-1-2015 (Register 2015, No. 1). Note: Authority cited: Sections 114975, 115000 and 131200, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 114965, 114970, 115060, 131050, 131051 and 131052, Health and Safety Code.
1. New section filed 4-11-2008; operative 5-11-2008 (Register 2008, No. 15).
2. Amendment of subsections (p) and (p)(3), footnote and Note filed 12-30-2014; operative 4/1/2015 (Register 2015, No. 1).