La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § XV-750

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XV-750 - Safety Procedures and Instructions for Remote Afterloader Units, Teletherapy Units, and Gamma Stereotactic Radiosurgery Units

A. For remote afterloader units, teletherapy units, and gamma stereotactic radiosurgery units, a licensee shall:

1. secure the unit, the console, the console keys, and the treatment room when not in use or unattended;

2. permit only individuals approved by the authorized user, radiation safety officer, or authorized medical physicist to be present in the treatment room during treatment with the source;

3. prevent dual operation of more than one radiation-producing device in a treatment room, if applicable; and

4. develop, implement, and maintain written procedures for responding to an abnormal situation when the operator is unable to place the source in the shielded position or remove the patient or human research subject from the radiation field with controls from outside the treatment room. These procedures shall include:

a. instructions for responding to equipment failures and the names of the individuals responsible for implementing corrective actions;

b. the process for restricting access to and posting of the treatment area to minimize the risk of inadvertent exposure; and

c. the names and telephone numbers of the authorized users, the authorized medical physicist, and the radiation safety officer to be contacted if the unit or console operates abnormally.

B. A copy of the procedures required by Paragraph A.4 of this Section shall be physically located at the unit console.

C. A licensee shall conspicuously post written instructions at the unit console. These instructions shall inform the operator of:

1. the location of the procedures required by Paragraph A.4 of this Section; and

2. the names and telephone numbers of the authorized users, the authorized medical physicist, and radiation safety officer to be immediately contacted if the unit or console operates abnormally.

D. Prior to the first use for patient treatment of a new unit or an existing unit with a manufacturer upgrade that affects the operation and safety of the unit, a licensee shall:

1. ensure that vendor operational and safety training is provided to all individuals who will operate the unit. The vendor operational and safety training shall be provided by the device manufacturer or by an individual certified by the device manufacturer to provide the operational and safety training; and

2. provide operational and safety instructions, initially and at least annually, to all individuals who operate the unit, as appropriate to the individual's assigned duties. The instructions shall include instructions in:

a. the procedures identified in Paragraph A.4 of this Section; and

b. the operating procedures for the unit.

E. A licensee shall ensure that operators, authorized medical physicists, and authorized users participate in drills of the emergency procedures, initially and at least annually.

F. A licensee shall maintain a record of individuals receiving instruction required by Subsection D of this Section, a description of the instruction, the date of instruction, the name(s) of the attendee(s), and the name of the individual who gave the instruction for three years.

G. A licensee shall retain a copy of the procedures required by Paragraphs A.4 and D.2 of this Section until the licensee no longer possesses the remote afterloader, teletherapy unit, or gamma stereotactic radiosurgery unit.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § XV-750

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality and Radiation Protection, Radiation Protection Division, LR 18:34 (January 1992), amended LR 24:2106 (November 1998), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 30:1180 (June 2004), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs and Criminal Investigations Division, LR 471859 (12/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2001 et seq. and 2104.B.