Section 157.26. Control of exposure from external sources in restricted areas.

 

(1)   Control of access to high radiation areas.

(a) A licensee or registrant shall ensure that each entrance or access point to a high radiation area has one or more of the following features:

1. A control device that, upon entry into the area, causes the level of radiation to be reduced below that level at which an individual might receive a deep dose equivalent of one mSv (100 mrem) in one hour at 30 centimeters from the source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

2. A control device that energizes a conspicuous visible or audible alarm signal so that the individual entering the high radiation area and the supervisor of the area are made aware of the entry.

3. Entryways that are locked, except during periods when access to the areas is required, with control over each individual entry.

(b) In place of the controls required under par. (a) for a high radiation area, a licensee or registrant may substitute continuous direct or electronic surveillance that is capable of preventing unauthorized entry.

(c) A licensee or registrant may apply to the department for approval of alternative methods for controlling access to high radiation areas.

(d) A licensee or registrant shall establish the controls required under par. (a) 1. and 3. in a way that does not prevent individuals from leaving a high radiation area.

(e) A licensee or registrant is not required to control each entrance or access point to a room or other area that is a high radiation area solely because of the presence of radioactive materials prepared for transport and packaged and labeled under the regulations of the U.S. department of transportation provided that all of the following conditions are met:

1. The packages do not remain in the area longer than 3 days.

2. The dose rate at one meter from the external surface of any package does not exceed 0.1 mSv (10 mrem) per hour.

(f) A licensee or registrant is not required to control entrance or access to rooms or other areas in hospitals solely because of the presence of patients containing radioactive material, provided there are personnel in attendance who are taking the necessary precautions to prevent the exposure of individuals to radiation or radioactive material in excess of the established limits in this subchapter and to operate within the ALARA provisions of the licensee's or registrant's radiation protection program.

(g) A registrant is not required to control entrance or access to rooms or other areas containing sources of radiation capable of producing a high radiation area if the registrant has met all the specific requirements for access and control specified in other applicable parts of this chapter, such as subch. IV for industrial radiography and subch. VIII for x-rays in the healing arts and accelerators.

(2)   Control of access to very high radiation areas.

(a) In addition to the requirements in sub. (1) , a licensee or registrant shall institute measures to ensure that an individual is not able to gain unauthorized or inadvertent access to areas in which radiation levels could be encountered at 5 Gy (500 rad) or more in one hour at one meter from a source of radiation or any surface through which the radiation penetrates. This requirement does not apply to rooms or areas in which diagnostic x-ray systems are the only source of radiation or to non-self-shielded irradiators.

(b) A licensee or registrant is not required to control entrance or access to rooms or other areas containing sources of radiation capable of producing a very high radiation area as described in par. (a) if the licensee or registrant has met all the specific requirements for access and control specified in other applicable parts of this chapter, such as subch. IV for industrial radiography and subch. VIII for x-rays in the healing arts and accelerators.

CR 01-108 : cr. Register July 2002 No. 559 , eff. 8-1-02.