Section R12-1-603. Operational Standards, Shielding, and Darkroom Requirements

A.      A person shall not make, sell, lease, transfer, lend, or install x- ray equipment or the supplies used in connection with the equipment unless the supplies and equipment, when properly placed in operation and properly used, meets the requirements of 12 A.A.C. 1.

B.       A registrant shall direct the operation of x-ray machines under the registrant's control and assure that all of the following pro- visions are met in the operation of x-ray machines:

1.        The registrant shall not permit any individual to engage in the practice of “Healing Arts Radiography” using equip- ment under the registrant's control, unless the individual possesses, and displays in the primary employer’s facil- ity, an official certificate issued by, or is exempt from, the Medical Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners that contains an original signature of its Director or designee. A copy of the certificate shall be posted at any secondary employment location with documentation that verifies that the employer has physically seen the official certifi- cate and has annotated on the copy the location where the official certificate may be viewed by Agency staff.

2.        The registrant shall maintain records documenting com- pliance with subsection (B)(1) for each individual prac- ticing “Healing Arts Radiography” using equipment under the registrant's control,

3.        The registrant shall provide safety rules to each individ- ual operating x-ray equipment under the registrant’s con- trol, including any restrictions in operating procedures necessary for the safe use of the equipment and require that the operator demonstrate familiarity with 12 A.A.C. 1.

C.      Shielding

1.        Each registrant shall provide each installation with pri- mary and secondary protective barriers that are necessary to assure compliance with 12 A.A.C. 1, Article 4.

2.        A registrant shall ensure that attenuation provided by a protective barrier meets or exceeds the level of protection established in Report No. 147 Structural Shielding Design for Medical X-ray Imaging Facilities, November 19, 2004, by the National Council on Radiation Protec- tion and Measurements, (NCRP), NCRP Publications, 7910 Woodmount Ave., Suite 400, Bethesda, MD 20814- 3095. This report is incorporated by reference and avail- able under R12-1-101. The incorporated material con- tains no future editions or amendments. Copies of the report are available from NCRP Publications: online at http://www.ncrppublications.org; toll free at (800) 229- 2652 (Ext. 25); or e-mail at NCRPpubs@NCRPon- line.org. Each registrant shall use this incorporated mate- rial to provide sufficient shielding to prevent a public exposure that exceeds the limits in R12-1-416.

3.        A registrant shall:

a.         Mount each lead barrier so that the barrier will not sag or cold flow because of its own weight and pro- tect the barrier from damage;

b.        Use barriers designed so that joints between differ- ent ends of protective material do not impair the overall protection of the barriers;

c.         Use barriers designed so that joints at the floor and ceiling do not impair the overall protection of the barriers;

d.        Use windows, window frames, doors, and door frames that have the same lead equivalence required in the adjacent walls; and

e.         Cover holes in protective barriers so that overall attenuation is not impaired.

4.        A registrant shall also meet the structural shielding requirements in R12-1-607(C), if the  x-ray system  in question is not a mobile fluoroscopic unit, dental pan- oramic, cephalometric, dental CT, or intraoral radio- graphic system.

D.      Film Processing and Darkroom Requirements. A registrant shall:

1.        Ensure that the darkroom is light-tight and use proper safe-lighting such that any film type in use exposed in a cassette to x-ray radiation sufficient to produce an optical density from 1 to 2 when processed shall not suffer an increase in density greater than 0.1 (0.05 for mammogra- phy) when exposed in the darkroom for two minutes with all safe-lights illuminated. (A processor with a daylight loader satisfies this requirement.);

2.        Ensure that film is stored in a cool, dry place and is pro- tected from radiation exposure; and that film located in open packages is stored in a light-tight container;

3.        Ensure that film cassettes and intensifying screens are inspected annually, cleaned, and replaced as necessary;

4.        Ensure that film cassettes contain film and intensifying screens that have the same sensitivity;

5.        Ensure that automatic film processors develop film in accordance with time-temperature relationships recom- mended by the film manufacturer;

6.        Ensure that  manually  developed  film is  developed in accordance with the time-temperature relationships rec- ommended by the manufacturer, and that a timer, ther- mometer, and a time-temperature chart are available and used in the darkroom;

7.        Ensure that film processing solutions are prepared and maintained in accordance with the directions of the man- ufacturer;

8.        Ensure that outdated film is not used for diagnostic radio- graphs.

9.        Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning or inspection of computed radiography (CR) cassettes, but not less than annually;

10.     Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for preventive maintenance on digital radiography panels or cassettes, but not less than annually; and

11.     Maintain documentation that demonstrates that require- ments of this subsection are being met for three years for agency review from the date of inspection.

Historical Note

Former Rule Section F.3; Former Section R12-1-603 repealed, new Section R12-1-603 adopted effective June 30, 1977 (Supp. 77-3). Amended effective August 8,

1986 (Supp. 86-4). Amended effective January 2, 1996 (Supp. 96-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R.

4302, effective November 14, 2003 (Supp. 03-3).

Amended by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 4458, effec- tive December 4, 2004 (Supp. 04-4). Amended by final

rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1023, effective August 1, 2009 (Supp. 09-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R.

3882, effective January 4, 2014 (Supp. 13-4).