GH9800011 RADIATION PROTECTION BOARD GHANA ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION RADIATION PROTECTION AND SAFETY GUIDE NO. GRPB-G5 SAFE USE OF X-RAYS 29-39 RADIATION PROTECTION BOARD GHANA ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION RADIATION PROTECTION AND SAFETY GUIDE NO. GRPB-G5 SAFE USE OF X-RAYS RPB REPORT NO. GRPB-G5 (1998) C. Schandorf, E. O. Darko, J. Yeboah, and S. D. Asiamah RADIATION PROTECTION AND SAFETY GUIDE NO. GRPB-G5 SAFE USE OF X-RAYS NOTICE OF APPROVAL By virtue of section 11 of the Radiation Protection Instrument, LI 1559 of 1993 and with the consent of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the Radiation Protection Board has on 1998, approved the Radiation Protection and Safety Guide on Safe Use of X-rays. This guide is approved for the purposes of providing practical guidance to registrants to fulfill the requirement of the Radiation Protection Instrument LI 1559. This guide comes into effect on 1998. Signed: PROF. S. K. SARPONG DR. P. C. ACQUAH CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN GHANA ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION RADIATION PROTECTION BOARD CONTENTS Pages FOREWORD v PREFACE vi 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 General 1.2 Scope 1.3 Exemptions 2.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS 1-3 2.1 Registrant's Responsibility 2.2 Shielding 2.3 Prohibitions 2.4 Individual Monitoring and Reporting Requirements 2.5 Records and Associated Information 2.6 Staff Qualifications 2.7 Radiation Safety Procedures 2.8 Radiation Safety Program 2.9 Operator Training 3.0 EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY SYSTEMS 3-6 3.1 Half-Value Layer 3.2 Beam-On Indicators 3.3 Mechanical Support of Tube Head 3.4 Diagnostic Source Assembly Leakage Radiation Limits 3.5 Radiation from Capacitor Energy Storage X-ray Equipment in Standby Status 3.6 Technique Indicators 3.7 Reproducibility of Exposures 3.8 Patient or Film Support 3.9 Personnel Protection 3.10 Technique Guides 3.11 Patient Dose Criteria 3.12 X-ray Film Processing Systems 3.13 Gonadal Shielding 3.14 Viewing and Communication 3.15 Mobile and Portable Control Location 4.0 FLUOROSCOPIC SYSTEMS 6-9 4.1 Beam Limitation 4.2 Spot Film Devices 4.3 Fluoroscopic Timer 4.4 Primary Barrier/Interlock 4.5 Source-Skin Distance (SSD) 4.6 Indication of Potential and Current 4.7 Activation of the Fluoroscopic Tube 4.8 Entrance Exposure Requirements 4.9 Barrier Transmitted Radiation Rate Limits 4.10 Staff and Ancillary Personnel Protection 4.11 Control of Scattered Radiation 4.12 Additional Requirements for Stationery Fluoroscopic Systems used for Cardiac Catheterization Procedures 4.13 Radiation Therapy Simulation Systems 4.14 Operator Restrictions 5.0 RADIOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS OTHER THAN FLUOROSCOPIC, DENTAL OR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEMS 9-11 5.1 Beam Limitation 5.2 Timer;. 5.3 X-iay Control 5.4 Source-Skin Distance (SSD) 5.5 Linearity 5.6 SID Indication 5.7 X-ray Field/Imaj.;; Receptor Alignment 5.8 Medical Radiographic Entrance Exposure Limits 6.0 REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY 11-14 6.1 Physician Supervision 6.2 Radiographist who perform Mammography 6.3 Type of Machine 6.4 Compression Device 6.5 Half-Value Layer 6.6 Source-Imaging Receptor Distance 6.7 Focal Spot Size 6.8 Mammography Exam Dose Limits 6.9 Mammography Exposure Rate 6.10 Mammography Phantom Image Evaluation 6.11 Quality Assurance 6.12 Records 7.0 COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT SYSTEMS) 14-15 7.1 Requirements for Equipment iii 7.2 Facility Design Requirements ' 7.3 Quality Assurance 7.4 Records 7.5 Operating Procedures 8.0 DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS 15-17 8.1 General Requirements 8.2 Additional Requirements for Dental Intraoral Systems 8.3 Dental Radiographic Exposure Limits (Single Film) 8.4 Beam Limitation Requirements for Dental Extraoral Systems 8.5 Additional Requirements for Dental Radiography 9.0 THERAPY SYSTEMS 17-23 9.1 Facility Design 9.2 Plan Review 9.3 Shielding Requirements s ^ 9.4 Safety Systems 9.5 Operator and Control Position 9.6 Viewing and Communication System 9.7 Warning Signs 9.8 Equipment Requirements 9.9 Radiation Protection Survey 9.10 Calibrations 9.11 Quality Assurance Checks 9.12 Service or Maintenance 9.13 Dosimetry System Requirements 9.14 Records 9.15 Operating Procedures 10.0 NON-MEDICAL X-RAY SYSTEMS 23-25 10.1 Labelling 10.2 Tests and Inspection 10.3 Records 10.4 Additional Operating Procedures and Instructions 10.5 Monitoring in Addition to the Requirements of Section 2.4 10.6 Additional Requirements for Industrial Radiography Units 10.7 Additional Requirements for Baggage Systems 10.8 Additional Requirements for Cabinet Systems DEFINITIONS 26-27 REFERENCES 27 WORKING GROUP 28 FOREWORD The Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was established in 1993 by the amendment of the Atomic Energy Act, Act 204 of 1963 by the Provisional National Defence Council Law, Law 308. The Primary Law was strengthened by the enactment of the Radiation Protection Instruments, LI 1559 in January 1993. The RPB is mandated to be the National Competent Authority in Ghana for licensing and inspection of sources and practices for the purposes of radiation safety. This regulatory guide was developed to assist Registrant to follow systematic procedures which will facilitate an effective implementation of the provisions of the radiation protection regulations. Preparation of this guide was carried out with the assistance of Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety the support of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. PREFACE In the framework of the IAEA Inter-regional Model Project on Radiation Protection for upgrading of regulatory capability for licensing and inspection, the need to prepare supporting documents such as codes of practice, guides and relevant document was recognized. X-rays has been used over several decades in Ghana for diagnosis in medicine and other applications in industry, research and teaching without any regulatory guidance on its safe use. The present guide, GRPB-G5 on Safe use of X-rays is intended to assist registrants to follow systematic procedures for ensuring cost effective and safe use of x-rays in Ghana. Based upon the review of the legislation in place and other document available the working group decided to follow the format of tae previous Radiation and Safety Guide? prepared with the assistance of International Atomic Energy Agency. The overall system of national regulation is then as follow?/ Level 1 - Ghana Atomic Energy Commission ACT 204 1963 with Amendment: Atomic Energy Commission LAW, PNDC Law 308 of 1993. Level 2 - Ghana Radiation Protection INSTRUMENT, LI 1559 of 1993. Level 3 - Radiation Protection and Safety GUIDES, 1995, with current documents as follows: GRPB-G1 - Qualification and Certification of the Radiation Protection Personnel. GRPB-G2 - Notification and Authorization by Registration or Licensing. Exemption and Exclusions. GRPB-G3 - Dose Limits. GRPB-G4 - Inspection. GRPB-G5 - Safe Use of X-rays VI 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General: If properly utilized, the use of x-rays can be instrumental in the improvement of the health and welfare of the public. As such, this regulatory guide was developed to assist and encourage registrants in the safe and constructive use of x-rays and to prohibit and prevent exposure to ionizing radiation in amounts which are or may be detrimental to health. 1.2 Scope The present guide applies to the use of x-rays for diagnostic, therapeutic, and non medical purposes. 1.3 Exemptions The Radiation Protection Board (RPB) may, upon application or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions of exceptions from the requirements of this regulatory guide if, in the opinion of the RPB, it is impractical to comply, and only if such an exemption or exception will not result in undue hazard to public health and safety. 2.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS 2.1 Registrant's Responsibility a) Direct the operation of the x-ray system(s); b) Register with Radiation Protection Board (RPB) in accordance with the provisions of LI 1559 all x-ray equipment which is used; c) Permit operation of the x-ray systems(s) only by individuals who are authorized in accordance with Radiation Protection and Safety Guide No. GRPB G-2. 2.2 Shielding Each installation shall be provided with such primary barriers and/or secondary barriers as are necessary to assure compliance with the dose limits provision of Radiation Protection and Safety Guide No. GRPB G-3. 2.3 Prohibitions a) Individuals shall not be exposed to the useful beam except for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes and only when such exposure has been authorized by a medical or dental practitioner registered under the Medical and Dental Degree, 1972 (N.R.C.D. S91). This provision specifically prohibits deliberate exposure of individuals for training, demonstration or other non-medically related purposes; b) Fluoroscopy shall not be used as a substitute for radiography or in lieu of proper anatomical positioning/centering procedures prior to radiographic studies. c) The use of direct exposure x-ray film (without intensifying screens) for routine diagnostic radiological imaging procedures, other than intraoral dental radiography and therapeutic portal imaging, is prohibited. 1 d) The use of photofluorographic systems is prohibited. 2.4 Individual Monitoring and Reporting Requirements All persons who are associated with the operation of an x-ray system are subject to the radiation dose standards, requirements for the determination of doses, requirements for individual monitoring, and requirements for reporting of radiation doses, which are specified in Radiation Protection and Safety Guide No. GRPB G-3. 2.5 Records and Associated Information The registrant shall maintain at the facility, for a period of at least one inspection cycle records showing the receipt, transfer, storage and disposal of all sources of radiation. 2.6. Staff Qualifications The registrant shall maintain at the facility, for review by the RPB, current listing of all authorized users.