Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64E-5.648 - Radiation Safety Officer

Except as provided in Rule 64E-5.657, F.A.C., the licensee shall require the RSO as provided in Rule 64E-5.605, F.A.C., to be an individual who:

(1) Is certified by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the NRC or an agreement state and who meets the requirements in subsections 64E-5.648(4) and (5), F.A.C., of this section. (The names of board certifications which have been recognized by the NRC or an agreement state will be posted on the NRC's Web page at http://www.nrc.gov/materials/miau/med-use-toolkit/spec-board-cert.html.) To have its certification process recognized, a specialty board shall require all candidates for certification to:

(a)

1. Hold a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in physical science or engineering or biological science with a minimum of 20 college credits in physical science;

2. Have 5 or more years of professional experience in health physics (graduate training may be substituted for no more than 2 years of the required experience) including at least 3 years in applied health physics; and

3. Pass an examination administered by diplomates of the specialty board, which evaluates knowledge and competence in radiation physics and instrumentation, radiation protection, mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity, radiation biology, and radiation dosimetry; or

(b)

1. Hold a master's or doctor's degree in physics, medical physics, other physical science, engineering, or applied mathematics from an accredited college or university;

2. Have 2 years of full-time practical training and/or supervised experience in medical physics either:

a. Under the supervision of a medical physicist who is certified in medical physics by a specialty board recognized by the NRC or an agreement state; or

b. In clinical nuclear medicine facilities providing diagnostic or therapeutic services under the direction of physicians who meet the requirements for authorized users in Rule 64E-5.657, 64E-5.650 or 64E-5.660, F.A.C.;

3. Pass an examination, administered by diplomates of the specialty board, that assesses knowledge and competence in clinical diagnostic radiological or nuclear medicine physics and in radiation safety; or

(2) Have completed a structured educational program consisting of both:

(a) 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas:

1. Radiation physics and instrumentation;

2. Radiation protection;

3. Mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity;

4. Radiation biology; and

5. Radiation dosimetry.

(b) One year of full-time radiation safety experience under the supervision of the individual identified as the RSO on a NRC or agreement state license or permit issued by a NRC master material licensee that authorizes similar type(s) of use(s) of radioactive material involving the following:

1. Shipping, receiving, and performing related radiation surveys;

2. Using and performing checks for proper operation of instruments used to determine the activity of dosages, survey meters, and instruments used to measure radionuclides;

3. Securing and controlling radioactive material;

4. Using administrative controls to avoid mistakes in the administration of radioactive material;

5. Using procedures to prevent or minimize radioactive contamination and using proper decontamination procedures;

6. Using emergency procedures to control radioactive material; and

7. Disposing of radioactive material; or

(3)

(a) Is a medical physicist who has been certified by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the NRC or an agreement state under subsection 64E-5.656(1), F.A.C., and has experience in radiation safety for similar types of use of radioactive material for which the licensee is seeking the approval of the individual as RSO and who meets the requirements in subsections 64E-5.648(4) and (5), F.A.C., of this section; or

(b) Is an authorized user, authorized medical physicist, or authorized nuclear pharmacist identified on the licensee's license and has experience with the radiation safety aspects of similar types of use of radioactive material for which the individual has RSO responsibilities; and

(4) Have obtained written attestation, signed by a preceptor RSO, or residency program director who represents a consensus of residency program faculties (as long as at least one member of the residency program faculty is an authorized individual in the same category as designated by the applicant seeking authorized status)who meets the requirements in subsection 64E-5.648(5) and in subparagraphs 64E-5.648(1)(a) 1., and 64E-5.648(1)(a) 2., or 64E-5.648(1)(b) 1., and 64E-5.648(1)(b) 2., or subsection 64E-5.648(2) or paragraph 64E-5.648(3)(a), F.A.C., of this section, and has demonstrated the ability to function independently as a RSO to fulfill the radiation safety related duties for a medical use licensee; and

(5) Has training in the radiation safety, regulatory issues, and emergency procedures for the types of use for which a licensee seeks approval. This training requirement may be satisfied by completing training that is supervised by a RSO, authorized medical physicist, authorized nuclear pharmacist, or authorized user, as appropriate, who is authorized for the type(s) of use for which the licensee is seeking approval.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64E-5.648

Rulemaking Authority 404.022, 404.051, 404.061, 404.071, 404.081, 404.141 FS. Law Implemented 404.022, 404.051(1), (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), (10), (11), 404.061(2), (3), 404.071(1), 404.081, 404.141 FS.

New 8-25-91, Formerly 10D-91.767, Amended 2-11-10.