X-Ray Safety Regulation

X-Ray Safety Regulation, M.R. 341/88 R The Public Health Act , C.C.S.M. c. P210 Regulation 341/88 R Registered August 29, 1988 bilingual version (HTML) Table of Contents Section 1 Definitions 2 Application 3 Limits of exposure 4 X-rays as an unwanted by-product 5-7 Who may use X-ray equipment 8-11 Owner's responsibilities 12 Registration 13-15 Location of X-ray machine 16 Inspection of equipment 17 Lessee's responsibilities Schedule Definitions 1 In this regulation, "dose" means the quantity of energy absorbed per unit of mass by any material from X-rays or from secondary particles generated by X-rays falling upon or penetrating the material; (« dose ») "dose limits" means the maximum doses that may be permitted to be received over a specified period of time in accordance with dose limits contained in current Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection; (« doses limites ») "dosimeter" means any device that in the opinion of the minister may be reliably used for measuring or estimating dose; (« dosemètre ») "gray" means a unit of dose, and is such that a dose of one gray is realized when one joule of energy has been absorbed per kilogram of material; (« gray ») "inspector" means a person appointed by the minister for the purposes of this regulation and includes a chief inspector and medical inspector; (« inspecteur ») "medical inspector" means a duly qualified medical practitioner appointed by the minister for the purposes of this regulation; (« médecin inspecteur ») "owner of X-ray equipment" includes (a) any person in possession of X-ray equipment or X-ray source under a contract providing that the ownership, title, and property therein is to vest in him or her at a subsequent time, upon payment of the whole or part of the price or on the performance of any other condition, and (b) a lessee of X-ray equipment or source; (« propriétaire de matériel de radiographie ») "permanent X-ray location" means an enclosure, room, or localized space within the bounds of which the owner of X-ray equipment confines or proposes to confine its use; (« emplacement de radiographie permanent ») "radiological technologist" means a person registered by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists in either diagnostic or therapeutic radiological technology; (« technicien en radiologie ») "shield" or "shielding" means a material barrier interposed in the path of a flow of X-rays, and having the effect of reducing the dose experienced by any object located beyond the shield; (« écran » ou « protection ») "sievert" means a unit of dose equivalent as defined and used in the Atomic Energy Control Regulations of Canada and applicable as a unit of X-ray dose on the basis that one sievert equals one gray; (« sievert ») "X-ray area" means the building or other place, or the part thereof, in which X-ray equipment is used; (« aire de radiographie ») "X-ray equipment" or "X-ray machine" means an operable device, the principal purpose and function of which is the production of X-rays, together with such ancillary apparatus as may be necessary for this purpose; (« matériel de radiographie » or « appareil de radiographie ») "X-ray source" means any device, or that portion of it, that emits X-rays, whether or not the principal purpose and function of the device is the production of X-rays; (« source de rayons X ») "X-ray worker" means any person whose occupation requires him or her to use or operate an X-ray machine or regularly to enter an X-ray area where the X-ray machine is in use; (« travailleur en radiographie ») "X-rays" means artificially produced electromagnetic radiation of wave length shorter than .000,000,25 mm. (« rayons X ») Application 2 This regulation does not apply to the owner of an X-ray source (a) that contains, as a component essential to the operation of the device of which it is a part, a quantity of a radioactive material that is subject to be licensed under the Atomic Energy Control Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder; or (b) that, in some mode of operation, produces X-rays or other radiation capable of inducing radioactivity in matter on which they fall. Limits of exposure 3 Subject to section 9, all X-ray equipment shall be used in such a manner that no person in the vicinity of the equipment, other than a patient who is undergoing treatment or diagnostic examination by X-rays, is likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation therefrom in excess of the dose limit set out in the Schedule. X-rays as an unwanted by-product 4(1) Equipment that produces X-rays as an unwanted by-product shall be so designed and constructed that no person in the vicinity of the equipment will be exposed to ionizing radiation therefrom in excess of the dose limits set out in Table 2 of the Schedule. 4(2) Equipment referred to in subsection (1) is exempt from other requirements of this regulation. Who may use X-ray equipment 5(1) No person shall use or prescribe the use of X-ray equipment for the irradiation of human subjects who is not authorized to do so by an Act of the Legislature. 5(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person who (a) is registered as a radiological technologist by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists; (b) is undergoing a course of instruction approved by the minister, or is a candidate for certification as a radiological technologist by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists; or (c) possesses training and experience commensurate with the radiological work he is called upon to do, and is authorized by the minister to do that work; may, while under the supervision of a person authorized as set out in subsection (1), operate X-ray equipment for the irradiation of human subjects. 6(1) No person shall use X-ray equipment for the irradiation of other than human subjects who is not (a) registered in Manitoba as a veterinarian; (b) authorized by the minister to operate the equipment; (c) certified as a senior industrial radiographer or a junior industrial radiographer in accordance with the current standard for certification of industrial radiographic personnel issued by the Canadian Government Specification Board; or (d) acting under the direct supervision of a person referred to in clause (b) or (c). 6(2) Notwithstanding clauses (1)⁠(c) and (d), no person who is not a senior industrial radiographer, or a person acting under the direct supervision of a senior industrial radiographer, shall use or operate X-ray equipment for industrial radiographic purposes if it is not part of a permanent X-ray location. 7 Notwithstanding anything in this regulation, no person under 18 years of age shall operate X-ray equipment, unless that person is a student undergoing a bona fide course of instruction relating to the operation of X-ray equipment under safety supervision satisfactory to the minister. Owner's responsibilities 8 The owner of X-ray equipment shall (a) at his or her own expense, provide such medical examinations or tests on persons operating his or her X-ray equipment as may be required by the minister; and (b) provide the medical inspector with reports of those examinations. 9(1) The owner of X-ray equipment shall organize the use of the equipment and the X-ray area so that (a) an X-ray worker is unlikely to be exposed to doses in excess of those set out in Table 1 of the Schedule; and (b) a person who is not an X-ray worker is unlikely to be exposed to doses in excess of those set out in Table 2 of the Schedule. 9(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to doses received by human subjects undergoing diagnosis or treatment by a person authorized as set out in subsection 5(1). 9(3) The owner of X-ray equipment shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure that a person referred to in subsection (2) does not receive a dose that, in the opinion of the minister or a person designated by the minister to inspect the X-ray equipment, is unnecessary. 9(4) Where the owner of an X-ray equipment uses the services of an X-ray worker who is also an atomic radiation worker as defined in the Atomic Energy Control Regulations of Canada , and whose total exposure, for that reason, may be due both to X-rays and to other radiations of similar effect on the human body, the owner shall restrict the part of the X-ray worker's exposure that is due to X-rays, so that the worker's combined dose is unlikely to exceed the limits specified in the Atomic Energy Control Regulations of Canada . 10(1) The minister may direct the owner of the X-ray equipment to make such changes to the X-ray equipment or the manner in which it is used, or to the X-ray area associated therewith, as will result in compliance with section 9. 10(2) The direction required by subsection (1) shall be in writing and specify the time within which compliance shall be effected. 11 The owner of the X-ray equipment shall ensure that personal dosimeters are worn by all X-ray workers while on duty. Registration 12(1) Every person who is the owner of X-ray equipment shall register that equipment with the minister within 30 days after becoming the owner. 12(2) An application for registration of the X-ray equipment shall be made in the form prescribed by the minister. 12(3) The owner shall register the X-ray equipment whether it is to be used temporarily or permanently. 12(4) Where a person who is registered as the owner of X-ray equipment under this section ceases to be the owner thereof, he shall notify the minister within 30 days, and shall supply particulars relating to the change of ownership or disposition of the X-ray equipment as the minister may require. 12(5) Where X-ray equipment has been leased to a person, the lessee shall notify the minister within 30 days of the date when he ceases to be the lessee thereof, and give such particulars relating to the X-ray equipment as the minister may require. Location of X-ray machine 13(1) No owner of an X-ray machine shall install or use the X-ray machine in a place that is intended as a permanent X-ray location, unless he or she has obtained the prior approval of the minister to install and use the X-ray machine. 13(2) An application for the approval required under subsection (1) shall be in the form prescribed by the minister, and shall be accompanied by plan location drawings in duplicate which shall (a) be to scale; (b) identify the owner of the X-ray machine and the owner of the premises; (c) show the proposed location of the X-ray machine; (d) indicate the occupancy of adjacent rooms, offices or other accommodation including those above and below the space in which the X-ray machine is to be installed; and (e) indicate the additional structural shielding to be installed on the boundaries of the space in which the X-ray machine is to be installed. 13(3) An owner who has obtained the approval required under subsection (1), shall not (a) install or use an X-ray machine of a type different from that for which the space was approved; (b) install or use more X-ray machines in the space than those for which allowance was made in the approval; or (c) make or cause to be made substantial alterations to the X-ray equipment or to its use or location, or to the X-ray area associated with it; without obtaining the prior approval of the minister. 14(1) No owner of an X-ray machine shall install or use that X-ray machine in a place that is not a permanent X-ray location unless he has obtained from the minister approval of the use of that X-ray machine in that location. 14(2) An application for the approval required under subsection (1) shall be in the form prescribed by the minister. 15 Section 14 does not apply (a) to mobile X-ray equipment in a place other than a permanent X-ray location within a hospital; (b) to portable X-ray equipment for diagnosis or treatment of human subjects in a place other than a permanent X-ray location; or (c) to portable X-ray equipment for diagnosis or treatment of animals by a veterinarian in a place other than a permanent X-ray location. Inspection of equipment 16 An owner of an X-ray machine shall (a) permit an inspector to enter at any reasonable time the place where the X-ray machine is used; (b) furnish such information as the inspector may request concerning (i) the extent and manner of use of the X-ray equipment, (ii) the qualifications and training of the person using and operating the X-ray equipment or directing its use or operation, (iii) the protective procedures that the owner has established, and (iv) the circumstances surrounding an incident which might have involved an undue exposure of any person; (c) permit the inspector to make such technical tests as the inspector may consider necessary in order to establish an estimate of the dose that a person in the vicinity of the X-ray equipment may receive or may have received; and (d) permit a medical inspector to interview X-ray workers to facilitate the medical inspector's review of medical examination records pertaining to those workers. Lessee's responsibilities 17 Where X-ray equipment has been leased to a person, the lessee shall comply with sections 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16. SCHEDULE (Sections 3, 4 and 9)