Registration, Shielding, Radiation Monitoring
Registration, Shielding, Monitoring
(Additional links at bottom of page)
- REGISTRATION - All radiation sources are required to be registered with the State of Alaska, even when there is a federal agency that also requires licensure/registration, such as radioactive materials with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Registration with the State of Alaska does not constitute a license with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That requires a separate application to a different agency. This means that x-ray machines, linear accelerators, electron microscopes, lead paint or soil density gauges, baggage x-ray machines, bone densitometers and similar devices must be registered with the state if they are in use. There is an $80 per tube/per year fee for registering a radiation source with the state (except radioactive materials). Linear accelerators require a $500 fee per year, although a therapy simulator has the same fee as a radiographic x-ray source ($80). Whenever an x-ray device is transferred or sold the State of Alaska must be notified within 30 days. In addition, the installer of a radiation emitting device must submit federal form 2975 to the Food and Drug Administration whenever a machine is installed or a certified component is replaced. This federal form is not the same as state registration. The registration form may be downloaded from the State of Alaska website, using this link. FORMS.
There is no registration fee for vendors, equipment operators or physicists. The fees for dental units are determined by the Board of Dentistry, which may be contacted by calling 907-465-2534.
- SHIELDING - Due to the potential for injury from excessive exposure to ionizing radiation sources it is often necessary to use shielding between the source of radiation, operators, and patients. The kind and amount of shielding will depend upon many factors, such as the amount of radiation generated, the energy of that radiation, size of the room where the device is kept, structural material used in the walls, what is outside the walls, and other considerations. The best reference for determining how much, or even if, shielding is necessary is NCRP Handbook 147, published by the National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. This publication replaced NCRP Reports No. 49 and No. 34, which is referenced in the current Alaska regulations at 18 AAC 85.440(1), adopted in 1971. Neither of the last two booklets are published any longer, so you should contact a health physicist for guidance, or similarly qualified radiation safety professional for current information. See links below, or go to shielding details, or physicist consultants for more information.
- RADIATION MONITORING - Whenever an individual is likely to receive one-tenth or more of the annual whole body occupational exposure limit that individual must be monitored for radiation exposure. Monitoring may be in the form of a film badge exchanged monthly, or TLD badge, pocket dosimeter, or similar approved and calibrated radiation dosimeter. The exposure limits found in 10 CFR Part 20 are a valuable guide for all facilities.
- WARNING SIGNS - A radiation warning sign is required at the entry to any ionizing radiation area, which is defined as an area where an individual could receive in any one hour an exposure dose in excess of 5 millirems. Click on the radiation sign link for additional information.
- RADIATION INJURIES - Radiation injuries do occur, even with modern technology and sources that are in common use. Click on the radiation injuries link below for examples of radiation injuries involving diagnostic medical x-rays.
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