64E-5.1406. Access Control

(1) Panoramic irradiators shall not be operated unless the following are met:

(a) Each entrance to a radiation room must have a door or other physical barrier to prevent inadvertent entry of personnel while the sources are exposed. Product conveyor systems can serve as barriers as long as they reliably and consistently function as a barrier. It must not be possible to move the sources out of their shielded position if any door or barrier to the radiation room is open. Opening the door or barrier while the sources are exposed must cause the sources to return promptly to their shielded position. The primary entry door must have a lock which is operated by the same key used to control source movement. The doors and barriers must not prevent any individual in the radiation room from leaving.

(b) Each entrance to a radiation room must have an independent backup access control to detect personnel entry while the sources are exposed if the primary access control fails. Entry while the sources are exposed must cause the sources to return to their fully shielded position and also must activate a visible and audible alarm to make the individual entering the room aware of the hazard. The alarm also must alert at least one other individual of the entry who is on site and who is trained to render or summon assistance promptly.

(c) A radiation monitor must be provided to detect the presence of high radiation levels in the radiation room before personnel entry. The monitor must be integrated with personnel access door locks to prevent room access when the monitor detects high radiation levels. The monitor must generate audible and visible alarms if high radiation levels are detected when personnel entry is attempted. The monitor can be located in the entrance or maze but not in the direct radiation beam.

(d) Before sources move from their shielded position, the source control automatically must activate conspicuous visible and audible alarms to alert people in the radiation room that the sources will be moved from their shielded position. The alarms must give individuals enough time to leave the room before the sources leave the shielded position.

(e) Each radiation room must have a clearly visible and readily accessible control which will allow an individual in the room to return the sources to their fully shielded position.

(f) Each radiation room must contain a control which allows the sources to move from the shielded position only if the control has been activated and the door or barrier to the radiation room subsequently has been closed within a preset time.

(g) Each entrance to the radiation room and each entrance to the area within the personnel access barrier of an underwater irradiator must be posted as required by Rule 64E-5.323, F.A.C. Panoramic irradiators also must be posted as required by Rule 64E-5.323, F.A.C. The sign can be removed, covered, or otherwise made inoperative when the sources are shielded fully.

(h) If the radiation room has roof plugs or other movable shielding, it must not be possible to operate the irradiator unless the shielding is in its proper location. This requirement can be met by interlocks which prevent operation if shielding is not placed properly or by an operating procedure requiring inspection of shielding before operating.

(2) Underwater irradiators must have a personnel access barrier around the pool which must be locked to prevent access when the irradiator is not attended. Only operators and facility management shall have access to keys to the personnel access barrier. There must be an intrusion alarm to detect unauthorized entry when the personnel access barrier is locked. Activation of the intrusion alarm must alert an individual, not necessarily on site, who is prepared to respond or summon assistance.

Rulemaking Authority 404.051(4) FS. Law Implemented 404.051(1), (5), (6), 404.061, 404.081, 404.141 FS. History–New 8-14-96, Formerly 10D-91.1506, Amended 10-8-00.