(a) Each user shall notify the Department as soon as possible but not later than four hours after the discovery of an event that prevents immediate protective actions necessary to avoid exposures to radiation or radioactive materials that could exceed regulatory limits or releases of licensed material that could exceed regulatory limits (events may include but are not limited to fires, explosions, and toxic gas releases).
(b) Each user shall notify the Department within 24 hours after the discovery of any of the following events involving radiation or radioactive materials:
(1) An unplanned contamination event involving licensed radioactive material that:
(A) Requires access to the contaminated area by workers or the public, to be restricted for more than 24 hours by imposing additional radiological controls or by prohibiting entry into the area;
(B) Involves a quantity of material greater than five times the lowest annual limit on intake specified in Appendix B of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, part 20, incorporated by reference in section 30253 for the material; and
(C) Has access to the area restricted for a reason other than to allow isotopes with a half-life of less than 24 hours to decay prior to decontamination.
(2) An event in which equipment is disabled or fails to function as designed when:
(A) The equipment is required by regulation or license condition to prevent releases exceeding regulatory limits, to prevent exposures to radiation and radioactive materials exceeding regulatory limits, or to mitigate the consequences of an accident;
(B) The equipment is required to be available and operable when it is disabled or fails to function; and
(C) No redundant equipment is available and operable to perform the required safety function.
(3) An event that requires unplanned medical treatment at a medical facility of an individual with spreadable radioactive contamination on the individual's clothing or body.
(4) An unplanned fire or explosion damaging any licensed material or any device, container, or equipment containing licensed material when:
(A) The quantity of material involved is greater than five times the lowest annual limit on intake specified in Appendix B of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, part 20, incorporated by reference in section 30253 for the material; and
(B) The damage affects the integrity of the licensed material or its container.
(c) Reports made by users in response to the requirements of this section shall be made as follows:
Each user shall make reports required by subsections (a) and (b) by telephone to the Department. To the extent that the information is available at the time of notification, the information provided in these reports shall include:
(1) The caller's name and call back telephone number;
(2) A description of the event, including date and time;
(3) The exact location of the event;
(4) The isotopes, quantities, and chemical and physical form of the licensed material involved; and
(5) Any personnel radiation exposure data available.
(d) Each user who makes a report required by this section shall submit a written follow-up report within 30 days of the initial report. These written reports shall be sent to the Department and include:
(1) A description of the event, including the probable cause and the manufacturer and model number (if applicable) of any equipment that failed or malfunctioned;
(2) The exact location of the event;
(3) The isotopes, quantities, and chemical and physical form of the licensed material involved;
(4) Date and time of the event;
(5) Corrective actions taken or planned and the results of any evaluation or assessment; and
(6) The extent of exposure of individuals to radiation or to radioactive materials without identification of individuals by name.
Credits
Note: Authority cited: Sections 114975, 115000 and 131200, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 114965, 114970, 115105, 115110, 115230, 115235, 131050, 131051 and 131052, Health and Safety Code.
History
1. New section filed 9-9-97; operative 10-9-97 (Register 97, No. 37). For prior history, see Register 94, No. 28.
2. Amendment of section and Note filed 4-11-2008; operative 5-11-2008 (Register 2008, No. 15).
3. Amendment of subsection (a) and amendment of Note filed 3-18-2019; operative 7-1-2019 (Register 2019, No. 12).
This database is current through 4/26/24 Register 2024, No. 17.
