Using radiation sources during maintenance

These safety procedures make sure that the use of radiation sources during maintenance, repair, commissioning or for compliance testing are conducted while minimising radiation doses to employees.

As a licence holder who can authorise the use of a radiation source for installation, service, maintenance, repair, commissioning or compliance testing, you are also responsible for ensuring radiation safety during its use.

Personal protective equipment

While using radiation sources you must wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Anyone assisting you must also wear relevant PPE. This could include lead aprons, lead sleeves, protective eyewear and special fire resistant clothing.

You must make sure that PPE is regularly checked for wear, tear and working condition every six months, or as recommended by the manufacturer. This must be done by someone qualified to assess PPE.

Radiation monitoring equipment

When using a radiation source you must use appropriate radiation monitoring equipment.

The monitoring equipment must have the sensitivity, accuracy, range and energy response appropriate to the radiation produced by the source. Only people qualified to perform calibration checks are able to assess monitoring equipment.

A calibration service provider must use reference sources directly traceable to the Australian National Standards as required by the National Measurement Act 1960.

The monitoring equipment must be re-calibrated if the check yields incorrect results by a qualified calibration service provider.

Personal radiation monitoring

Anyone using an ionising radiation source must monitor their radiation exposure using a personal monitoring device.

Anyone assisting must also monitor their radiation exposure using a personal monitoring device.

Personal monitoring devices must be obtained from, and assessed by, a personal monitoring service provider who uses reference sources directly traceable to the Australian National Standards as required by the National Measurement Act.

Personal monitoring devices must be assessed at least every three months.

Working procedures

Anyone licensed to use a radiation source during maintenance, repair, commissioning or for compliance testing must follow these safety procedures:

1. The licence holder must review the proposed service schedule to make sure safety precautions have been included and if additional safeguards, including restricting access to designated areas or wearing protective clothing, are required. This is very important if the work schedule includes a proposal to disarm interlocks.
2. You must advise the possession licence holder or the radiation safety officer of all procedures that require the use of a radiation source which could affect the level of radiation safety in their premises. You must restrict access to affected areas while the radiation source is being used.
3. You must take precautions to prevent unauthorised or inadvertent exposure from the radiation source. For example, by retaining the key to the operating controls or shutter, or taking other appropriate action if the controls cannot be locked.
4. If the radiation source needs to be used, you must make sure that only employees essential for the procedure are present and that:
   1. they know the hazards associated with exposure to radiation, the risks associated with the procedure and the precautions in place to minimise them
   2. they wear all issued PPE and personal monitoring devices
   3. access to areas where unusually elevated radiation levels may occur is restricted, by using placards or barriers or by locking the area
5. If safety interlocks are disarmed as part of a procedure, you must make sure they are rearmed and confirmed to be operating in compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Access must be restricted to the radiation source while safety interlocks are not engaged. Once the work is complete, the possession licence holder and radiation safety officer must be given written confirmation that the equipment has been returned to its operational state.
6. When proceeding to energise or expose the radiation source, you must ensure radiation exposures are kept as low as reasonably achievable. For example, while dealing with ionising radiation apparatus, you should restrict the size of the field, direct the primary beam towards unoccupied areas and select the lowest operating parameters (kV (peak) mA, exposure duration) consistent with operational requirements.
7. You must immediately notify the possession licence holder of any unexpected or unusual findings discovered during the use of the radiation source which could affect safety.
8. You must ensure wipe tests performed on sealed source apparatus containing radioactive substances are in compliance with ISO 9978 Radiation Protection - Sealed Radioactive Substance - Leakage test methods.
9. Once you have completed the procedure using the radiation source, you must review your activities and inspect the source to determine if its safety status complies with relevant radiation safety standards and with the manufacturer's specifications.
10. After completing your review, you must provide a written report of your findings to the possession licence holder.

Records

In addition to service records of the work performed on radiation sources, you must also keep the following records:

• personal monitoring records for yourself and your assistant, if applicable
• calibration certificates for the radiation monitoring equipment used.

Emergency procedures

In the event of an actual or suspected malfunction of a radiation source causing a higher than expected exposure, you must:

• ensure radiation exposures are minimised by switching off power to the radiation apparatus as quickly as possible, or by closing the shutter in the case of sealed source apparatus
• restrict access to the area by posting prominent warning signs near the source and retaining the key to the operation controls or shutter, or taking other appropriate action if the controls cannot be locked
• immediately notify the possession licence holder or the radiation safety officer of the situation.

You must arrange for personal monitoring devices to be returned to the personal radiation monitoring service provider for immediate assessment.

In the event of any unexpected occurrence, you must immediately advise Health Protection Services of the details of exposure.

A written report on the occurrence, using the radiation incident form, must follow the initial notification and should be submitted within seven days.

The report must include:

• a description of the incident
• details of any radiation exposures received by people
• actions taken
• proposals to prevent a recurrence.

For more information on using radiation sources during maintenance, repair, commissioning or for compliance testing, contact the Health Protection Service.

Contact us

Contact Health Protection Services by emailing hps@act.gov.au or calling 02 5124 9700