NAC459.5926. Therapeutic X-ray systems: Requirements for use; posting of certain procedures; duties of registrants.

     1. A therapeutic X-ray system must not be used for the irradiation of patients unless the facility complies with the criteria of the United States Food and Drug Administration for systems approved for human use.

     2. When not in use, the therapeutic X-ray system must be secured and unauthorized use or access prevented.

     3. When a patient must be held in position for radiation therapy, mechanical supporting or restraining devices must be used.

     4. A copy of the current operating and emergency procedures must be kept in a visible place in the treatment room.

     5. Except for the patient, a person must not be exposed to radiation during the treatment and the facility must use portable shielding to reduce the occupational dose.

     6. A registrant shall:

     (a) Notify the radiation safety officer specified in NAC 459.5924, or the officer’s designee, and an authorized user as soon as practicable, if a patient or human research subject has a medical emergency and dies;

     (b) Allow a person in the treatment room during treatment only after obtaining the approval of the authorized user, the radiation safety officer specified in NAC 459.5924 or the authorized medical physicist for electronic brachytherapy;

     (c) Prevent the operation of more than one device which produces radiation in a treatment room; and

     (d) Develop, implement and maintain written procedures for responding to a situation in which an operator is unable to complete the treatment in compliance with the written directive. The procedures must include, without limitation:

          (1) Instructions for responding to equipment failures and the names of the persons who are responsible for carrying out any corrective actions;

          (2) The process for restricting access to and marking the treatment area to minimize the risk of inadvertent exposure to radiation; and

          (3) The names and telephone numbers of the authorized users, the authorized medical physicist for electronic brachytherapy and the radiation safety officer specified in NAC 459.5924 who must be contacted if the system operates abnormally.

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