RADIATION SAFETY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1983 - SCHEDULE 10
RADIATION SAFETY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1983 - SCHEDULE 10
[Regulation 37]
Requirements to be complied with in respect of premises in which irradiating
apparatus is operated or used
1. In the case of any
premises in which there is x‑ray analysis equipment, the registrant
shall —
(a)
provide approved safety devices and safety equipment; and
(b)
ensure that the devices and equipment referred to in paragraph (a) and
the x‑ray analysis equipment are installed and located in those
premises,
in accordance with the
requirements set out in the NHMRC publication entitled “Code of Practice
for Protection against Ionizing Radiation emitted from X‑ray Analysis
Equipment 1984”.
2. (1) Subject to
subitem (2), in the case of any premises in which there is medical
radiographic equipment, the person in whose name those premises are registered
shall ensure that —
(a) the
control apparatus for that equipment is located —
(i)
in a room separate from the room in which that equipment
is installed but adjacent thereto; or
(ii)
behind a fixed screen, situated within the room in which
that equipment is installed and composed of radiation shielding material to a
height of not less than 2 metres and arranged so that the radiation emitted by
that equipment is scattered twice before it enters the area behind that screen
occupied by the operator of that control apparatus;
and
(b) the
operator of the control apparatus referred to in paragraph (a) is able to
see the patient —
(i)
by means of closed circuit television or a mirror; or
(ii)
through a lead glass window, the lead equivalence of
which —
A. if that window is
situated in a protective screen constructed to accommodate that screen, is not
less than that of that screen; or
B. if that window is
situated in a structural wall, is not less than that of the radiation
protection design requirement for that wall,
and is in either case
clearly and durably marked on that window, together with the peak kilovoltage
of the x‑ray beam with which that equivalent was measured;
and
(c) the
operator referred to in paragraph (b) is able to communicate with the
patient concerned from a shielded position; and
(d) a
protective apron and protective gloves with a shielding value of not less than
0.25 mm lead equivalent are provided for the use of the operator referred
to in paragraph (b); and
(e)
protective devices with a shielding value of not less than 0.5 mm lead
equivalent are provided for shielding the reproductive organs of patients; and
(f) any
room in those premises used for fluoroscopy by the direct viewing of a
fluoroscopic screen is free of any extraneous light which may interfere with
observation of the fluoroscopic image.
(2) The person in
whose name premises referred to in subitem (1) are registered need not
comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of
that subitem in respect of rooms in which mobile or portable x‑ray
apparatus is used unless the Council otherwise directs in writing.
3. In the case of
premises in which there is medical therapeutic irradiating
apparatus —
(a)
which can operate at voltages above 150 kilovolts peak, the person in whose
name those premises are registered shall ensure that —
(i)
the control panel for that irradiating apparatus is
located outside the treatment room; and
(ii)
safety interlocks are provided for that irradiating
apparatus so that when any door to the treatment room is opened —
A. that irradiating
apparatus automatically ceases to operate; or
B. the radiation level
within the treatment room is reduced to an average of not more than
20 microsieverts per hour and to a maximum of 100 microsieverts per
hour at a distance of 1 metre in any direction from the source of radiation,
whereupon that
irradiating apparatus can only be restored to full operation at the control
panel for that irradiating apparatus;
and
(b) the
person in whose name those premises are registered shall ensure
that —
(i)
there are, in addition to any safety interlocks referred
to in paragraph (a)(ii), warning lights to indicate the production of
x‑rays adjacent to all doors to the treatment room which are not visible
to the operator of that irradiating apparatus when located at the control
panel for that irradiating apparatus; and
(ii)
shielded windows, mirrors or closed circuit television
systems are provided to permit continuous observation of the patient during
treatment and are so located that the operator of that apparatus is able to
see both the patient and the control panel for that irradiating apparatus from
the same position; and
(iii)
provision is made for oral communication with the
patient.
4. In the case of
premises in which there is chiropractic radiographic equipment, the person in
whose name those premises are registered shall ensure that the requirements of
item 2 are complied with in respect of that apparatus.
[Schedule X amended: Gazette 22 Jul 1997
p. 3824‑5.]