N.M. Admin. Code § 20.3.15.1518 - OPERATING AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

A. The licensee shall have and follow written operating procedures for:

(1) operation of the irradiator, including entering and leaving the radiation room;

(2) use of personnel dosimeters;

(3) surveying the shielding of panoramic irradiators;

(4) monitoring pool water for contamination while the water is in the pool and before release of pool water to unrestricted areas;

(5) leak testing of sources;

(6) inspection and maintenance checks required by 20.3.15.1522 NMAC;

(7) loading, unloading and repositioning sources, if the operations will be performed by the licensee; and

(8) inspection of movable shielding required by Subsection H of 20.3.15.1507 NMAC; if applicable.

B. The licensee shall have and follow emergency or abnormal event procedures, appropriate for the irradiator type, for:

(1) sources stuck in the unshielded position;

(2) personnel overexposures;

(3) a radiation alarm from the product exit portal monitor or pool monitor;

(4) detection of leaking sources, pool contamination or alarm caused by contamination of pool water;

(5) a low or high water level indicator, an abnormal water loss or leakage from the source storage pool;

(6) a prolonged loss of electrical power;

(7) a fire alarm or explosion in the radiation room;

(8) an alarm indicating unauthorized entry into the radiation room, area around pool or another alarmed area;

(9) natural phenomena, including an earthquake, a tornado, flooding, or other phenomena as appropriate for the geographical location of the facility; and

(10) the jamming of automatic conveyor systems.

C. The licensee may revise operating and emergency procedures without department approval only if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) the revisions do not reduce the safety of the facility;

(2) the revisions are consistent with the outline or summary of procedures submitted with the license application;

(3) the revisions have been reviewed and approved by the radiation safety officer; and

(4) the users or operators are instructed and tested on the revised procedures before they are put into use.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 20.3.15.1518

05/03/95; 20.3.15.1518 NMAC - Rn, 20 NMAC 3.1.15.1518, 4/15/2004, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 11, June 13, 2017, eff. 6/13/2017