NAC459.5924. Therapeutic X-ray systems: Requirements for radiation safety officers.

     1. A registrant for any therapeutic X-ray system shall require a radiation safety officer to:

     (a) Have completed specific training on the system provided by the manufacturer and approved by the Division;

     (b) Be an authorized user or authorized medical physicist for electronic brachytherapy;

     (c) Be certified by:

          (1) The American Board of Health Physics in Comprehensive Health Physics;

          (2) The American Board of Radiology in Diagnostic Radiologic Physics, Therapeutic Radiological Physics or Medical Nuclear Physics;

          (3) The American Board of Nuclear Medicine;

          (4) The American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine; or

          (5) The American Board of Medical Physics; or

     (d) Have completed classroom and laboratory training, including, without limitation:

          (1) One hundred hours of radiation physics and instrumentation;

          (2) Thirty hours of radiation protection;

          (3) Twenty hours of mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radiation;

          (4) Twenty hours of radiation biology;

          (5) Thirty hours of medical therapy training; and

          (6) One year of full-time experience in radiation safety at a medical institution under the supervision of a radiation safety officer.

     2. A radiation safety officer shall:

     (a) Implement a radiation safety program in the facility;

     (b) Ensure that radiation safety activities are performed in accordance with approved procedures and regulatory requirements in the daily operation of a therapeutic X-ray system;

     (c) Promptly investigate and implement corrective actions when:

          (1) An incident which compromises safety occurs;

          (2) A reportable event occurs; or

          (3) An event occurs which deviates from approved radiation safety practices;

     (d) Prepare a written report of any investigation conducted pursuant to paragraph (c) and the corrective action taken;

     (e) Carry out written policies and procedures for:

          (1) The safe use of a therapeutic X-ray system;

          (2) The performance of radiation surveys as necessary;

          (3) The performance of checks on survey instruments and other safety equipment; and

          (4) The training of personnel who frequent or work in areas where radiation is present;

     (f) Keep on file:

          (1) A copy of all records and reports required by the Division;

          (2) A copy of NAC 459.010 to 459.950, inclusive;

          (3) A copy of each registration correspondence with the Division; and

          (4) The written policies and procedures required by this section; and

     (g) Review the occupational radiation exposure of all personnel working with X-ray systems at least once every 3 months.

     3. The training and experience in subsection 1 must be obtained within the 7 years immediately preceding the date of the application, or the person must have related continuing education experience in the same type of radiation therapy on an annual basis.

     4. The registrant shall retain all records of:

     (a) Annual training for at least 3 years; and

     (b) Initial training until the Division authorizes the disposal of the records.

     5. As used in this section, “radiation safety officer” does not include a radiation safety officer as the term is defined in NAC 459.074.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R185-08, eff. 5-7-2010)