NAC459.554. Administrative controls: Radiographic exposure.

     1. Except for patients who cannot be moved out of the room, only the staff and ancillary personnel required for the medical procedure or training may be in the room during the radiographic exposure. Other than the patient being examined:

     (a) All persons must be positioned so that no part of the body which is not protected by 0.5 mm lead equivalent will be struck by the useful beam.

     (b) Staff and ancillary personnel must be protected from the direct scatter radiation by protective aprons or whole body protective barriers of not less than 0.25 mm lead equivalent.

     (c) A patient who cannot be removed from the room must be protected from the direct scatter radiation by a whole body protective barrier of 0.25 mm lead equivalent or be so positioned that the nearest portion of the body is at least 2 meters from both the tube head and the nearest edge of the image receptor.

     (d) When a portion of the body of any member of the staff or ancillary personnel is potentially subjected to stray radiation which could result in his or her receiving 10 percent of the maximum permissible dose, as defined in NAC 459.320 to 459.374, inclusive, additional protective devices must be employed.

     2. Gonadal shielding of not less than 0.25 mm lead equivalent must be used for potentially procreative patients during radiographic procedures in which the gonads are in the direct or useful beam, except for cases in which this would interfere with the diagnostic procedure.

     3. Persons must not be exposed to the useful beam except for the purposes of the healing arts where each exposure has been authorized by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. This provision specifically prohibits deliberate exposure for the following purposes:

     (a) Exposure of a person for training, demonstration or other purposes unless there are also healing arts requirements and proper prescription has been provided.

     (b) Exposure of a person for the purpose of healing arts screening without prior written approval of the Division. Screening means an exposure of a person without a prior examination by a licensed practitioner.

     4. When a patient or film must be provided with auxiliary support during a radiation exposure:

     (a) Mechanical holding devices must be used when the technique permits. The safety rules, required by NAC 459.552 to 459.558, inclusive, must include individual protections where holding devices cannot be utilized;

     (b) Written safety procedures required by subsection 5 of NAC 459.552 must indicate the requirements for selecting a holder and include the procedure the holder must follow;

     (c) The human holder must be protected as required by subsection 1;

     (d) No person may be used routinely to hold film or patients;

     (e) In those cases where the patient must hold the film, except during intraoral examinations, any portion of the body other than the area of clinical interest struck by the useful beam must be protected by not less than 0.5 mm lead equivalent material; and

     (f) Such holding is permitted only in very unusual and rare situations.

     [Bd. of Health, Radiation Control Reg. §§ 6.3.1.1.5-6.3.1.1.8.6, eff. 2-28-80]—(NAC A 1-18-94; R085-06, 11-13-2006)