(1) A licensee who
possesses any sealed source or brachytherapy source shall follow the radiation
safety and handling instructions supplied by the manufacturer or equivalent
instructions approved by the department and shall maintain the instructions for
the duration of source use in a legible form and convenient to users.
(2) A licensee in possession of a sealed
source shall assure that:
(a) The source is
tested for leakage before its first use unless the licensee has a certificate
from the supplier indicating that the source was tested within 6 months before
transfer to the licensee; and,
(b)
The source is tested for leakage at least every 6 months or at intervals
approved by the department, another agreement state, a licensing state or the
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(c) Leak tests are capable of detecting the
presence of 0.005 microcurie (185 Bq) of radioactive material on the test
sample, or, in the case of radium, the escape of radon at the rate of 0.001
microcurie (37 Bq) each 24 hours;
(d) Test samples are taken from the source or
from the surfaces of the device in which the source is mounted or stored on
which radioactive contamination might be expected to accumulate; and,
(e) Teletherapy and other device
source samples are taken when the source is in the off position.
(f) Leak tests are analyzed by individuals
who are licensed by the department, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an
agreement state or licensing state to perform leak test
services.
(3) A licensee
shall retain leak test records for 3 years. The records shall contain the model
number and serial number if assigned of each source tested, the identity of
each source radionuclide and its estimated activity, the measured activity of
each test sample expressed in microcuries (becquerels), the date of the test,
and the name of the individual who performed the test analysis.
(4) If the leak test reveals the presence of
0.005 microcurie (185 Bq) or more of removable contamination, the licensee
shall:
(a) Immediately withdraw the sealed
source from use and cause it to be decontaminated and repaired or to be
disposed of in accordance with these regulations; and,
(b) File a written report with the department
within 5 days of receiving the leak test results describing the equipment
involved, the test results, the action taken, the model number and serial
number or the leaking source if assigned, the radioisotope and its estimated
activity, and the date of the test.
(5) A leak test is not required on the
following sources:
(a) Sources containing only
radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;
(b) Sources containing only radioactive
material as a gas;
(c) Sources
containing 100 microcuries (3.7 MBq) or less of beta or photon-emitting
material or 10 microcuries (370 kBq) or less of alpha-emitting material; and,
(d) Seeds of iridium 192 encased
in nylon ribbon.
(6) Leak
tests are not required on calibration and reference sources stored and not
being used. The licensee shall, however, clearly indicate on the inventory
records that these sources are for storage only and the date placed in storage.
The licensee shall test each such source for leakage before any use or transfer
unless it has been tested for leakage within 6 months before the date of use or
transfer.
(7) Leak tests are not
required on brachytherapy and teletherapy sources that are listed on a
department license for storage only. The licensee shall test each such source
for leakage before any use or transfer unless it has been tested for leakage
within 6 months before the date of use or transfer.
(8) A licensee who possesses sealed sources
or brachytherapy sources, except gamma stereotactic radiosurgery sources, shall
conduct a physical inventory of all such sources at intervals not to exceed six
months. The licensee shall retain each inventory record for 3 years. The
inventory records shall contain the model number of each source and serial
number if one has been assigned, the identity of each source radionuclide and
its estimated activity, the location of each source, the date of the inventory,
and the name of the individual who performed the inventory.
(9) A licensee who possesses a sealed source
or brachytherapy source shall survey all areas where such sources are stored
with a radiation survey instrument at least every 3 months. This does not apply
to teletherapy sources in teletherapy units or sealed sources in diagnostic
devices.
(10) A licensee shall
retain a record of each survey required in subsection
64E-5.618(9),
F.A.C., for 3 years. The record shall include the date of the survey, a sketch
of each area that was surveyed, the measured dose rate at several points in
each area expressed in millirems (microsieverts) per hour, the model number and
serial number of the survey instrument used to make the survey, and the name of
the individual who performed the survey.
(11) Sealed sources designated as radioactive
waste and held for decay in storage as in Rule
64E-5.624, F.A.C., are not
required to be leak tested or inventoried as required by this
section.