Section 180-7-071 - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR REMOTE AFTERLOADER UNITS, TELETHERAPY UNITS, AND GAMMA STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY UNITS071.01CONTROLLED ACCESS. A licensee must control access to the treatment room by a door at each entrance071.02ELECTRICAL INTERLOCK SYSTEM. A licensee must equip each entrance to the treatment room with an electrical interlock system that will: (A) Prevent the operator from initiating the treatment cycle unless each treatment room entrance door is closed;(B) Cause the source or sources to be shielded promptly when an entrance door is opened; and(C) Prevent the source or sources from being exposed following an interlock interruption until all treatment room entrance doors are closed and the source or sources on-off control is reset at the console.071.03AMBIENT RADIATION LEVELS. A licensee must require any individual entering the treatment room to assure, through the use of appropriate radiation monitors, that radiation levels have returned to ambient levels.071.04VIEWING AND INTERCOM SYSTEM. Other than low-dose remote afterloader units, a licensee must construct or equip each treatment room with viewing and intercom systems to permit continuous observation of the patient or the human research subject from the treatment console during irradiation.071.05EXPEDITIOUS REMOVAL. For licensed activities where sources are placed within the patient's or human research subject's body, a licensee may only conduct treatments which allow for expeditious removal of a decoupled or jammed source.071.06ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the requirements specified in 180 NAC 7-071.01 through 7-071.05, a licensee must: (A) For LDR, MDR and PDR remote afterloader units, require: (i) An authorized medical physicist and either an authorized user or a physician, under the supervision of an authorized user, who has been trained in the operation and emergency response for the unit to be physically present during the initiation of all patient treatments involving the unit; and(ii) An authorized medical physicist and either an authorized user or an individual, under the supervision of an authorized user, who has been trained to remove the source applicator or applicators in the event of an emergency involving the unit, to be immediately available during continuation of all patient treatments involving the unit;(B) For HDR remote afterloader units, require: (i) An authorized user and an authorized medical physicist to be physically present during the initiation of all patient treatments involving the unit; and(ii) An authorized medical physicist and either an authorized user or a physician, under the supervision of an authorized user, who has been trained in the operation and emergency response for the unit, to be physically present during continuation of all patient treatments involving the unit;(C) For gamma stereotactic radiosurgery units, require an authorized user and an authorized medical physicist to be physically present throughout all patient treatments involving the unit; and(D) Notify the RSO, or their designee, and an authorized user as soon as possible if the patient or human research subject has a medical emergency and immediately if the patient dies.071.07RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE EQUIPMENT. A licensee must have applicable radiological emergency response equipment available near each treatment room to respond to a source that inadvertently: (A) Remains in the unshielded position; or(B) Lodges within the patient following completion of the treatment.180 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 7, § 071
Amended effective 11/3/2020Amended effective 6/14/2023