SECTION 252:410-15-9. Personnel monitoring

(a)   Monitoring devices. The permittee shall not allow any individual to perform radiographic operations unless, at all times during radiographic operations, each individual wears on the trunk of the body:

(1)   an individual badge, such as a film badge, optically stimulated luminescent device (OSL) or thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD), which must be assigned to and worn only by one individual;

(2)   a direct reading dosimeter (such as a pocket dosimeter)or electronic dosimeter; and

(3)   an alarm ratemeter.

(b)   Daily maintenance of monitoring devices. Direct reading and electronic dosimeters shall be read and the exposures recorded at the beginning and end of each shift or change of job location.

(1)   At a minimum, direct reading dosimeters shall be recharged and electronic dosimeters reset, and "start" readings recorded immediately before checking out any source of radiation from an authorized storage location for the purposes of conducting industrial radiographic operations, and before beginning radiographic operations on any subsequent calendar day (if the source of radiation has not been checked back into an authorized storage site).

(2)   Whenever radiographic operations are concluded for the day, the "end" readings on direct reading and electronic dosimeters shall be recorded and the accumulated occupational doses for that day determined and recorded.

(c)   Periodic maintenance of monitoring devices.

(1)   Film badges shall be replaced at least monthly. Other individual badges shall be replaced at periods not to exceed three months.

(2)   All individual badges shall be processed and evaluated by a processor accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

(3)   After replacement, each individual badge shall be submitted for processing as soon as practicable.

(4)   Direct reading and electronic dosimeters shall be checked at periods not to exceed 12 months for correct response to radiation, and records of such checks shall be maintained. Acceptable range is within plus or minus 20 percent of the true radiation exposure.

(5)   At any time a direct reading dosimeter is discharged beyond its range, or reads greater than 200 mrem (2mSv), and the possibility of radiation exposure can not be ruled out as the cause, industrial radiographic operations by that worker shall cease and the worker's individual badge shall be processed immediately. The individual shall not return to work with sources of radiation until a determination of the radiation exposure has been made by the RSO or the RSO's designee. The results of this determination shall be included in records maintained by the facility.

(d)   Lost or damaged monitoring device. If a worker's individual badge, direct reading or electronic dosimeter is lost or damaged, the worker shall cease work immediately until a replacement monitoring device meeting the requirements of this section is provided. If the worker's individual badge is lost or damaged, the exposure shall be calculated for the time period from issuance to loss or damage of the individual badge. The results of the calculated exposure and the time period for which the individual badge was lost or damaged shall be included and maintained in the facility's records.

(e)   Exception. At permanent x-ray radiographic installations where other appropriate alarming or warning devices are in routine use, the wearing of an alarming ratemeter is not required.

(f)   Alarm ratemeters. Each alarm ratemeter must:

(1)   Be checked to ensure that the alarm functions properly (sounds) before using at the start of each shift;

(2)   Be set to give an alarm signal at a preset dose rate of 5 mSv/hr (500 mrem/hr, with an accuracy of plus or minus 20 percent of the true radiation dose rate;

(3)   Require special means to change the preset alarm; and

(4)   Be calibrated at periods not to exceed 12 months for correct response to radiation.

(g)   Records of personnel monitoring. The licensee shall maintain exposure records for the time periods specified:

(1)   Direct reading dosimeter readings, as required by 252:410-15-9(b), shall be maintained for three (3) years after the record is made;

(2)   Yearly operability checks, as required by 252:410-15-9(c)(4), shall be maintained for three (3) years after the record is made;

(3)   Alarm ratemeter calibrations, as required by 252:410-15-9(f)(4), shall be maintained for three (3) years after the record is made;

(4)   Personnel dosimeter results received from the accredited NVLAP processor, as required by 252:410-15-9(c)(2), shall be maintained until the DEQ terminates the license;

(5)   Records of estimates of exposures as a result of off-scale personal direct reading dosimeters, as required by 252:410-15-9(c)(5), shall be maintained until the DEQ terminates the license;

(6)   Records of lost or damaged personnel dosimeters, as required by 252:410-15-9(d), shall be maintained until the DEQ terminates the license.

[Source: Added at 21 Ok Reg 1551, eff 6-11-04]