10A NCAC 15 .1625         EXCEPTIONS TO POSTING REQUIREMENTS

(a)  A licensee is not required to post caution signs in areas or rooms containing radioactive materials for periods of less than eight hours, if each of the following conditions is met:

(1)           The materials are constantly attended during these periods by an individual who takes the precautions necessary to prevent the exposure of individuals to radiation or radioactive materials in excess of the limits established in the rules in this Section; and

(2)           The area or room is subject to the licensee's control.

(b)  Rooms or other areas in hospitals that are occupied by patients are not required to be posted with caution signs pursuant to Rule .1624 of this Section provided that:

(1)           The patient is being treated with sealed sources or has been treated with unsealed radioactive material in quantities less than 30 millicuries (110 MBq), or the measured dose rate at one meter from the patient is less than 0.005 rem (0.05 mSv) per hour; and

(2)           There are personnel in attendance who will take the necessary precautions to prevent the exposure of individuals to radiation or radioactive material in excess of the limits established in this Section and to operate within the ALARA provisions of the licensee's radiation protection program.

(c)  A room or area is not required to be posted with a caution sign because of the presence of a sealed source provided the radiation level at 30 centimeters from the surface of the source container or housing does not exceed 0.005 rem (0.05 mSv) per hour.

(d)  Rooms or other areas in medical facilities that are occupied by patients while being treated with radiation from an accelerator are not required to be posted with a caution sign pursuant to Rule .1624(c) of this Section provided that:

(1)           access to the room or area is posted in accordance with Rule .1624(b) of this Section; and

(2)           there are personnel in attendance who shall provide assurance that:

(A)          continuous audio and visual observation of the patient is maintained during treatment;

(B)          all provisions of Subparagraph (b)(2) of this Rule are met; and

(C)          the accelerator is secured in the "beam off" status at the end of each patient's treatment.

(e)  Rooms or other areas in medical facilities that are occupied by patients while being treated with radiation from a teletherapy source are not required to be posted with a caution sign pursuant to Rule .1624(c) of this Section provided that:

(1)           access to the room or area is posted in accordance with Rule .1624(b) of this Section; and

(2)           there are personnel in attendance who shall take the necessary precautions to prevent the inadvertent exposures of workers, other patients, and members of the public to radiation in excess of the limits established in the rules of this Section.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 104E-7(a)(2);

Eff. January 1, 1994;

Temporary Amendment Eff. August 20, 1994 for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2002; May 1, 1995;

Transferred and Recodified from 15A NCAC 11 .1625 Eff. February 1, 2015.