Requirements for possession of sealed sources and brachytherapy sources.
(1) A licensee in possession of any sealed source or brachytherapy source shall follow the radiation safety and handling instructions supplied by the manufacturer.
(2) A licensee in possession of a sealed source shall:
(a) Test the source for leakage before its first use unless the licensee has a certificate from the supplier indicating that the source was tested within six months before transfer to the licensee; and
(b) Test the source for leakage at intervals not to exceed six months or at other intervals approved by the department, NRC, or an agreement state in the sealed source and device registry.
(3) To satisfy the leak test requirements of this section, the licensee shall ensure the sample is analyzed by such method that the leak test can detect the presence of 185 becquerels (0.005 microcuries) of radioactive material in the sample.
(4) A licensee shall retain leak test records in accordance with WAC
246-240-572(1).
(5) If the leak test reveals the presence of 185 becquerels (0.005 microcurie) or more of removable contamination, the licensee shall:
(a) Immediately withdraw the sealed source from use and store, dispose, or cause it to be repaired in accordance with the requirements in chapters
246-221 and
246-232 WAC; and
(b) File a report within five days of the leak test in accordance with WAC
246-240-657.
(6) A licensee need not perform a leak test on the following sources:
(a) Sources containing only radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;
(b) Sources containing only radioactive material as a gas;
(c) Sources containing 3.7 megabecquerels (100 microcuries) or less of beta- or gamma-emitting material or 0.37 megabecquerel (10 microcuries) or less of alpha-emitting material;
(d) Seeds of iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon; and
(e) Sources stored and not being used. However, the licensee shall test each source for leakage before any use or transfer unless it has been leak tested within six months before the date of use or transfer.
(7) A licensee in possession of sealed sources or brachytherapy sources, except for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery sources, shall conduct a physical inventory of all the sources in its possession at intervals not to exceed six months. The licensee shall retain each inventory record in accordance with WAC 246-240-572.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
70A.388.040 and
70A.388.110. WSR 22-19-084, § 246-240-113, filed 9/20/22, effective 10/21/22. Statutory Authority: RCW
70.98.050. WSR 13-11-021, § 246-240-113, filed 5/7/13, effective 6/7/13. Statutory Authority: RCW
70.98.050 and
70.98.080. WSR 09-06-003, § 246-240-113, filed 2/18/09, effective 3/21/09. Statutory Authority: RCW
70.98.050. WSR 06-05-019, § 246-240-113, filed 2/6/06, effective 3/9/06.]
