Requirements for the Safe Use of Baggage X-Ray Inspection Systems - Safety Code 29

3. Responsibility and Personnel

If radiation risks are to remain low, in conformity with the ICRP objectives, personnel in every facility where baggage x-ray systems are installed must maintain strict adherence to the responsibilities charged to them. The responsibilities affecting the system ownership, operation and maintenance are indicated below.

3.1 System owner

The ultimate responsibility for the radiation safety of a baggage x-ray inspection system rests with the owner. The system owner must ensure that the baggage x-ray system(s) meets all applicable radiation safety standards. For some applications, this responsibility may be delegated to staff (e.g., a senior operator or a senior maintenance worker or the facility health and safety officer, henceforth, called the system owner or designee).

In every facility where a baggage x-ray inspection system is in use, the system owner or designee is responsible for:

1. ensuring that the baggage x-ray inspection system(s) is positioned for its intended use in accordance with the requirements set out in section 4.1.2 of this Safety Code;
2. ensuring that all operators and maintenance personnel have received training on the proper operation and x-ray hazards relevant to the baggage x-ray system(s) installed (prior to using the x-ray inspection system);
3. ensuring that the training program, referred to in paragraph 3.1.2, is reviewed (and revised as may be necessary) by the appropriate radiation protection regulatory authority;
4. prescribing radiation safety guidelines, safe operating and emergency procedures, and making readily available a copy of this Safety Code for reference by operators and maintenance personnel;
5. implementing a method of verification, supervision and periodic review to ensure that all operators and maintenance personnel have read and understood the relevant parts of this Safety Code, including the applicable radiation safety guidelines and proper operating procedures (before using a baggage x-ray inspection system);
6. establishing a maintenance program, taking into account the age and frequency of use of the baggage x-ray inspection system, that ensures all safety devices and components critical to x-ray production and x-ray shielding are routinely checked, and the defective parts replaced or repaired;
7. ensuring that maintenance personnel utilize a properly functioning and appropriately calibrated ionization-chamber survey meter to perform radiation measurements when certain maintenance functions (see section 4.1.3.2 of this Code) and other safety checks are required;
8. conducting prompt investigations of all radiation accidents^* and unsafe events,^** and submitting reports to the system owner, if applicable, and to the appropriate radiation protection regulatory authority within 5 calendar days;
9. ensuring that victims of radiation accidents receive specialized medical attention (e.g., consultation with a radiation oncologist, or a physician knowledgeable in the biological effects of ionizing radiation exposure to humans);
10. determining the appropriate corrective measures following radiation accidents and unsafe events, and ensuring that such measures are implemented effectively; and
11. ensuring that a trained maintenance worker or senior operator is available at the x-ray inspection system to assist or carry out operational and maintenance system functions unfamiliar to the radiation inspector during a radiation protection survey, and that a copy of the most recent survey report specific to that system, including summaries of corrected measures recommended and instituted, is available to the radiation inspector.

3.2 X-ray inspection system operators

All operators of baggage x-ray inspection systems must:

1. receive training, authorized by the system owner or designee, on the operation and x-ray safety relevant to the x-ray inspection system(s) intended for use;
2. demonstrate their competence in the operation of the x-ray system and a working knowledge of safe operational procedures to the system owner or designee;
3. read and understand section 3.2 and section 4.2 of this Safety Code, including all applicable radiation safety guidelines and proper operating procedures prescribed by the system owner or desig-nee, and by the appropriate radiation protection regulatory authority, before operating any baggage x-ray inspection system;
4. stop the operation of the baggage x-ray inspection system, if any radiation accidents and/or unsafe events occur, and immediately notify the system owner or designee of such conditions; and
5. acknowledge that persons who operate a baggage x-ray inspection system are responsible for carrying out the work in a safe manner consistent with the guidance given in paragraph 3.2.3 in order to ensure their own protection and that of others.

3.3 Maintenance personnel

All personnel responsible for the maintenance of baggage x-ray inspection systems must:

1. attend and successfully complete a course, which:
   
   
   1. is authorized by and acceptable to the system owner or designee or the system manufacturer;
   2. covers the operation, maintenance, repair and x-ray safety hazards relevant to the x-ray inspection system(s); and
   3. has the x-ray safety part reviewed or administered by the appropriate radiation protection regulatory authority;
      
      
2. read and understand section 3.1, section 3.3, section 4.1 and section 4.2 of this Safety Code including all applicable radiation safety procedures and operating guidelines that are prescribed by the system owner or designee, and by the appropriate radiation protection regulatory authority;
3. provide the system owner or designee with an explicitly written report of any imminent or foreseen user and/or operator procedure or action that can cause a radiation accident and/or unsafe event, as soon as such a procedure or action is identified;
4. use a properly functioning and appropriately calibrated ionization-chamber survey meter to monitor radiation levels during maintenance operations, especially for the replacement of an x-ray tube (or its shielded housing) or the relocation of an x-ray inspection system as described in paragraph 4.1.3.2 of this Safety Code, and for other radiation safety checks when warranted;
5. respond and investigate promptly all user and/or operator reports of the x-ray inspection system malfunctions, device and component failures, emergencies, etc., and resolve the problem(s) sat isfact orily before the x-ray inspection system is used; and
6. acknowledge that maintenance personnel are responsible for carrying out the work in a safe manner consistent with the guidance presented in this section in order to ensure their own protection and that of others.

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* A radiation accident is an unintentional exposure of humans to ionizing radiation that could result in adverse health effects.

** An unsafe event is any action that could result in the unnecessary exposure of humans to x-rays due to improper procedure or improper installation or of the x-ray inspection system.