Section 459.3146 - Radioactive material that involves use of irradiators other than category 1 irradiators1. A radiation safety officer for a specific license for radioactive material that involves the use of an irradiator, other than a category 1 irradiator, must have: (a) At least 3 months of full-time experience with the irradiator of the applicant for the license or with another irradiator of a similar type, which may include, without limitation, preoperational involvement with the irradiator, including, without limitation, testing while the irradiator is being constructed to ensure that the irradiator meets the design specifications;(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, successfully completed at least 40 hours of training in radiation safety generally that: (1) Includes, without limitation, training in:(I) Radioactivity and the decay of radioactive material;(II) The interaction of radiation with matter;(III) The biological effects of radiation;(IV) The detection of radiation through the use of radiation detection instruments and dosimeters;(V) The use of basic principles for protection against radiation protection and good safety practices, including, without limitation, the use of the methods involving time, distance and shielding to minimize exposure to radiation; and(VI) The state and federal regulations governing protection against radiation; and(2) Includes a written examination or evaluation of the proposed radiation safety officer's comprehension of the topics; and(c) If the previous experience of the radiation safety officer was with an irradiator of a similar type as the irradiator of the applicant for the specific license or the licensee, as applicable, or if the radiation safety officer was trained as an irradiation operator but does not have experience working with an irradiator, at least 40 hours of training that includes, without limitation: (1) Training in radiation safety for operating irradiators, including, without limitation, training in: (I) The difference between radiation and radioactive contamination;(II) The difference between internal and external exposure to radiation;(III) The biological effects of radiation, including, without limitation, the reasons for avoiding large doses of radiation;(IV) The units of radiation dose and quantities;(V) The types and relative hazards of the radioactive material to be possessed by the applicant for the specific license or possessed by the licensee, as applicable;(VI) The concept of keeping exposure to radiation as low as is reasonably achievable;(VII) The use of the methods involving time, distance and shielding to minimize exposure to radiation; and(VIII) The use of survey meters and personnel dosimeters;(2) Training in regulatory requirements, including, without limitation, training relating to:(I) The applicable state and federal regulations, including, without limitation, 10 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 36;(II) The dose limits authorized by the Division pursuant to NAC 459.335;(III) The conditions of, amendments to and renewal of a specific license for radioactive material that involves the use of an irradiator, other than a category 1 irradiator;(IV) The physical location at which radioactive materials are used and stored;(V) The control of and accountability relating to radioactive materials;(VI) An annual audit of a radiation safety program;(VII) The transfer and disposal of radioactive materials;(VIII) Recordkeeping concerning irradiators;(IX) Any reports or studies describing prior accidents or problems involving irradiators;(X) Handling incidents involving radiation which compromise safety;(XI) Recognizing and ensuring that signs warning of radiation are visible and legible;(XII) Licensing and inspection of radioactive materials by the Division;(XIII) Maintaining complete and accurate information as it relates to a specific license for radioactive material that involves the use of an irradiator, other than a category 1 irradiator;(XIV) The protection of employees who provide information concerning an alleged violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 or the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974; and(XV) The meaning of deliberate misconduct as it relates to a specific license for radioactive material that involves the use an irradiator, other than a category 1 irradiator, and possible enforcement actions relating to such deliberate misconduct;(3) Practical training in theory and operation for irradiators, including, without limitation, training in: (I) The basic function of an irradiator;(II) The radiation safety features of an irradiator;(III) Operating and emergency procedures which the radiation safety officer is responsible for performing;(IV) The difference between and requirements related to routine and nonroutine maintenance;(V) Lockout procedures; and(VI) The methods used in the design of an irradiator to prevent contamination;(4) On-the-job training under the supervision of a qualified irradiator operator that includes, without limitation, hands-on experience performing:(I) Operating procedures which the radiation safety officer is responsible for performing;(II) Practical tests which involve following emergency procedures;(III) Routine maintenance; and(IV) Lockout procedures; and(5) A requirement that each proposed radiation safety officer pass a closed-book examination with a score of not less than 70 percent. The examination must: (I) Consist of at least 25 questions that place an emphasis on radiation safety as it relates to irradiator operations and maintenance, operating and emergency procedures which the radiation safety officer is responsible for performing and other operations which are necessary for operating the irradiator safely and without supervision; and(II) Be reviewed with the proposed radiation safety officer immediately following the scoring of the examination to ensure that the proposed radiation safety officer knows the correct answers to any questions incorrectly answered on the examination.2. Formal training in health physics or certification by the American Board of Health Physics may be substituted for the training required by paragraph (b) of subsection 1 upon approval by the Division.3. The training required by paragraph (c) of subsection 1 may be in the form of self-study or directed study.Nev. Admin. Code § 459.3146
Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R144-13A, eff. 10/13/2016