The requirements in this Section apply to all uses of x-rays in
veterinary medicine and to all uses of x-rays in the healing arts including the
use of x-rays for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Additional
requirements for all diagnostic x-ray systems are in Section
360.40
and specific equipment application classes are contained in Sections
360.41
through
360.100.
For therapeutic x-ray systems also see Sections
360.110
and
360.120.
a) Registrant. The registrant shall:
1) Direct the operation of the x-ray
systems;
2) Register with the
Agency, in accordance with the provisions of 32 Ill. Adm. Code
320, all x-ray
equipment which is used at the facility and all portable or mobile x-ray
equipment used by the registrant;
3) Verify that each individual required to be
accredited by 32 Ill. Adm. Code
401 to apply x-rays for either diagnostic or
therapeutic purposes is properly accredited with the Agency prior to allowing
the individual to apply medical radiation procedures on human beings;
4) Permit operation of the x-ray systems only
by individuals who are licensed in accordance with State law (see Section
360.10(a)
), or who are accredited by the Agency pursuant to 32 Ill. Adm. Code
401 or who
are exempt from such requirements in accordance with the provisions of 32 Ill.
Adm. Code
401.
b)
Shielding. Each installation shall be provided with such primary barriers
and/or secondary barriers as are necessary to assure compliance with the
provisions of 32 Ill. Adm. Code
340.210,
340.270,
340.280
and
340.310.
c) An x-ray system which does not meet the
provisions of this Part shall not be operated for diagnostic or therapeutic
purposes.
d) If an x-ray system is
identified as not being in compliance with the provisions of this Part and if
that system is accessible for use, it shall be rendered inoperable (i.e.,
dismantle the x-ray source from the source support assembly) if so ordered by
the Director.
e) Prohibitions
1) Unauthorized Exposure. Individuals shall
not be exposed to the useful beam except for healing arts purposes and only
when the exposure has been authorized by a licensed practitioner of the healing
arts. A physician assistant or an advanced practice nurse may give
authorization as long as he or she is acting under the supervision or direction
of a licensed physician. This provision specifically prohibits deliberate
exposure for the following purposes:
A)
Exposure of individuals for training, demonstration or other non-healing arts
purposes.
B) Exposure of
individuals for the purpose of "healing arts screening" (see Section
360.20 ).
2) Fluoroscopy shall not be used
as a substitute for radiography or in lieu of proper anatomical
positioning/centering procedures prior to radiographic studies.
3) Fluoroscopic equipment using
phosphorescent screens shall not be used. Image intensification shall be
utilized on all fluoroscopic equipment.
4) The use of direct exposure x-ray film
(without intensifying screens) for routine diagnostic radiological imaging
procedures, other than intraoral dental radiography and therapeutic portal
imaging, is prohibited.
AGENCY NOTE: Therapeutic portal imaging is a technique used in
radiation therapy to verify correct alignment of therapy beams with the
patient's anatomy.
5) The
use of photofluorographic systems is prohibited.
6) The use of an individual accredited as a
limited diagnostic radiographer by the Agency pursuant to 32 Ill. Adm. Code
401
by a portable x-ray service provider is prohibited.
AGENCY NOTE: Photofluorography is frequently called mass
miniature radiography. In this technique the image of a fluorescent screen is
recorded on film by means of a camera.
f) Individual Monitoring and Reporting
Requirements. All persons who are associated with the operation of an x-ray
system are subject to the radiation dose standards, requirements for the
determination of the doses, requirements for individual monitoring and
requirements for reporting of radiation doses that are contained in 32 Ill.
Adm. Code
340.
g) The registrant
shall comply with the requirements of the Agency's rules entitled Notices,
Instructions and Reports to Workers; Inspections (32 Ill. Adm. Code
400).
h) Records and Associated
Information. The registrant shall maintain at the facility, for a period of at
least one inspection cycle (see 32 Ill. Adm. Code
320.10(c)
), records showing the receipt, transfer, storage and disposal of all sources
of radiation in accordance with the provisions of 32 Ill. Adm. Code
310 and
320.
i) Staff Qualifications. The
registrant shall maintain at the facility, for review by the Agency, current
certificates of accreditation (clear, legible copies are acceptable), issued by
the Agency in accordance with the provisions of 32 Ill. Adm. Code
401, for all
individuals who are required to be so accredited.
j) Radiation Safety Procedures. The
registrant shall provide to each individual who operates x-ray equipment at the
facility written operating and safety procedures. These procedures shall
include restrictions required for the safe operation of each radiation machine
and shall include the topics listed in the radiation safety program of
subsection (k).
k) Radiation Safety
Program. The registrant shall provide for initial and annual in-service
training in radiation safety for individuals (excluding licensed practitioners)
that apply ionizing radiation at the facility, to ensure their awareness of the
registrant's radiation safety practices and policies. The in-service training
shall include the following topics:
1)
Operating and emergency procedures for the radiation machines;
2) Use of personnel and patient protective
devices;
3) Procedures to minimize
patient and occupational doses, including procedures for selecting personnel to
support patients or film, as required by Section 360.40;
4) Use of individual monitoring devices (if
such devices are used at the facility);
5) Film processing procedures; and
6) Prohibited uses of x-ray machines, as
described in subsection (e).
l) Operator Training. Individuals who operate
radiation machines shall be instructed in and able to demonstrate competence
with the registrant's operating and safety procedures.