§ 20.1703 Use of individual respiratory protection equipment.

(a) If the licensee uses respiratory protection equipment to limit intakes pursuant to § 20.1702

(1) The licensee shall use only respiratory protection equipment that is tested and certified or had certification extended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Mine Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH/MSHA).

(2) If the licensee wishes to use equipment that has not been tested or certified by NIOSH/MSHA, has not had certification extended by NIOSH/ MSHA, or for which there is no schedule for testing or certification, the licensee shall submit an application for authorized use of that equipment, including a demonstration by testing, or a demonstration on the basis of reliable test information, that the material and performance characteristics of the equipment are capable of providing the proposed degree of protection under anticipated conditions of use.

(3) The licensee shall implement and maintain a respiratory protection program that includes

(i) Air sampling sufficient to identify the potential hazard, permit proper equipment selection, and estimate exposures;

(ii) Surveys and bioassays, as appropriate, to evaluate actual intakes;

(iii) Testing of respirators for operability immediately prior to each use;

(iv) Written procedures regarding selection, fitting, issuance, maintenance, and testing of respirators, including testing for operability immediately prior to each use; supervision and training of personnel; monitoring, including air sampling and bioassays; and recordkeeping; and

(v) Determination by a physician prior to the initial fitting of respirators, and either every 12 months thereafter or periodically at a frequency determined by a physician, that the individual user is medically fit to use the respiratory protection equipment.

(4) The licensee shall issue a written policy statement on respirator usage covering

(i) The use of process or other engineering controls, instead of respirators;

(ii) The routine, nonroutine, and emergency use of respirators; and

(iii) The periods of respirator use and relief from respirator use.

(5) The licensee shall advise each respirator user that the user may leave the area at any time for relief from respirator use in the event of equipment malfunction, physical or psychological distress, procedural or communication failure, significant deterioration of operating conditions, or any other conditions that might require such relief.

(6) The licensee shall use equipment within limitations for type and mode of use and shall provide proper visual, communication, and other special capabilities (such as adequate skin protection) when needed.

(b) In estimating exposure of individuals to airborne radioactive materials, the licensee may make allowance for respiratory protection equipment used to limit intakes pursuant to §20.1702, provided that the following conditions, in addition to those in §20.1703(a), are satisfied:

(1) The licensee selects respiratory protection equipment that provides a protection factor (see appendix A, part 20) greater than the multiple by which peak concentrations of airborne radioactive materials in the working area are expected to exceed the values specified in appendix B to part 20, Table 1, column 3. If the selection of a respiratory protection device with a protection factor greater than the multiple defined in the preceding sentence is inconsistent with the goal specified in § 20.1702 of keeping the total effective dose equivalent ALARA, the licensee may select respiratory protection equipment with a lower protection factor only if such a selection would result in keeping the total effective dose equivalent ALARA. The concentration of radioactive material in the air that is inhaled when respirators are worn may be initially estimated by dividing the average concentration in air, during each period of uninterrupted use, by the protection factor. If the exposure is later found to be greater than estimated, the corrected value must be used; if the exposure is later found to be less than estimated, the corrected value may be used.

(2) The licensee shall obtain authorization from the Commission before assigning respiratory protection factors in excess of those specified in appendix A to part 20. The Commission may authorize a licensee to use higher protection factors on receipt of an application that

(i) Describes the situation for which a need exists for higher protection factors, and

that the

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(ii) Demonstrates piratory protection equipment provides these higher protection factors under the proposed conditions of use.

(c) The licensee shall use as emergency devices only respiratory protection equipment that has been specifically certified or had certification extended for emergency use by NIOSH/ MSHA.

(d) The licensee shall notify, in writing, the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office listed in appendix D to part 20 at least 30 days before the date that respiratory protection equipment is first used under the provisions of either § 20.1703 (a) or (b). [56 FR 23400, May 21, 1991, as amended at 57 FR 57878, Dec. 8, 1992; 60 FR 7903, Feb. 10, 1995; 60 FR 20185, Apr. 25, 1995]

$20.1704 Further restrictions on the use of respiratory protection equipment.

The Commission may impose restrictions in addition to those in §§20.1702, 20.1703, and appendix A to part 20 to

(a) Ensure that the respiratory protection program of the licensee is adequate to limit exposures of individuals to airborne radioactive materials; and

$20.1902 Posting requirements.

(a) Posting of radiation areas. The licensee shall post each radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words "CAUTION, RADIATION AREA."

(b) Posting of high radiation areas. The licensee shall post each high radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words "CAUTION, HIGH RADIATION AREA" or "DANGER, HIGH RADIATION AREA."

(c) Posting of very high radiation areas. The licensee shall post each very high radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and words "GRAVE DANGER, VERY HIGH RADIATION AREA."

(d) Posting of airborne radioactivity areas. The licensee shall post each airborne radioactivity area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words "CAUTION, AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY AREA" or "DANGER, AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY AREA."

(e) Posting of areas or rooms in which licensed material is used or stored. The licensee shall post each area or room in which there is used or stored an amount of licensed material exceeding 10 times the quantity of such material specified in appendix C to part 20 with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL(S)" "DANGER, RADIOACTIVE

or

(b) Rooms or other areas in hospitals that are occupied by patients are not required to be posted with caution signs pursuant to § 20.1902 provided that the patient could be released from confinement pursuant to §35.75 of this chapter.

(c) A room or area is not required to be posted with a caution sign because of the presence of a sealed source provided the radiation level at 30 centimeters from the surface of the source container or housing does not exceed 0.005 rem (0.05 mSv) per hour.

[56 FR 23401, May 21, 1991, as amended at 57 FR 39357, Aug. 31, 1992]

§ 20.1904 Labeling containers.

(a) The licensee shall ensure that each container of licensed material bears a durable, clearly visible label bearing the radiation symbol and the words "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" or "DANGER, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL." The label must also provide sufficient information (such as the radionuclide(s) present, an estimate of the quantity of radioactivity, the date for which the activity is estimated, radiation levels, kinds of materials, and mass enrichment) to permit individuals handling or using the containers, or working in the vicinity of the containers, to take precautions to avoid or minimize expo

sures.

(b) Each licensee shall, prior to removal or disposal of empty uncontaminated containers to unrestricted areas, remove or deface the radioactive material label or otherwise clearly indicate that the container no longer contains radioactive materials. $20.1905 Exemptions to labeling requirements.

A licensee is not required to label

(a) Containers holding licensed material in quantities less than the quantities listed in appendix C to part 20; or

(b) Containers holding licensed material in concentrations less than those specified in table 3 of appendix B to part 20; or

(c) Containers attended by an individual who takes the precautions necessary to prevent the exposure of individuals in excess of the limits established by this part; or

(d) Containers when they are in transport and packaged and labeled in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Transportation,3 or

(e) Containers that are accessible only to individuals authorized to handle or use them, or to work in the vicinity of the containers, if the contents are identified to these individuals by a readily available written record (examples of containers of this type are containers in locations such as water-filled canals, storage vaults, or hot cells). The record must be retained as long as the containers are in use for the purpose indicated on the record; or

(f) Installed manufacturing or process equipment, such as reactor components, piping, and tanks.

[56 FR 23401, May 21, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 20185, Apr. 25, 1995]

§ 20.1906 Procedures for receiving and opening packages.

(a) Each licensee who expects to receive a package containing quantities of radioactive material in excess of a Type A quantity, as defined in §71.4 and appendix A to part 71 of this chapter, shall make arrangements to receive

(1) The package when the carrier offers it for delivery; or

(2) Notification of the arrival of the package at the carrier's terminal and to take possession of the package expeditiously.

(b) Each licensee shall—

(1) Monitor the external surfaces of a labeled a package for radioactive contamination unless the package contains only radioactive material in the form of a gas or in special form as defined in 10 CFR 71.4;

(2) Monitor the external surfaces of a labeled a package for radiation levels unless the package contains quantities of radioactive material that are less

3 Labeling of packages containing radioactive materials is required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) if the amount and type of radioactive material exceeds the limits for an excepted quantity or article as defined and limited by DOT regulations 49 CFR 173.403 (m) and (w) and 173.421-424.

3 Labeled with a Radioactive White I, Yellow II, or Yellow III label as specified in U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, 49 CFR 172.403 and 172.436-440.

than or equal to the Type A quantity, as defined in §71.4 and appendix A to part 71 of this chapter; and

(3) Monitor all packages known to contain radioactive material for radioactive contamination and radiation levels if there is evidence of degradation of package integrity, such as packages that are crushed, wet, or damaged.

(c) The licensee shall perform the monitoring required by paragraph (b) of this section as soon as practical after receipt of the package, but not later than 3 hours after the package is received at the licensee's facility if it is received during the licensee's normal working hours, or not later than 3 hours from the beginning of the next working day if it is received after working hours.

(d) The licensee shall immediately notify the final delivery carrier and, by telephone and telegram, mailgram, or facsimile, the Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office listed in appendix D to part 20 when

(1) Removable radioactive surface contamination exceeds the limits of §71.87(i) of this chapter; or

(2) External radiation levels exceed the limits of § 71.47 of this chapter.

(e) Each licensee shall—

(1) Establish, maintain, and retain written procedures for safely opening packages in which radioactive material is received; and

(2) Ensure that the procedures are followed and that due consideration is given to special instructions for the type of package being opened.

(f) Licensees transferring special form sources in licensee-owned or licensee-operated vehicles to and from a work site are exempt from the contamination monitoring requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, but are not exempt from the survey requirement in paragraph (b) of this section for measuring radiation levels that is required to ensure that the source is still properly lodged in its shield.

[56 FR 23401, May 21, 1991, as amended at 57 FR 39357, Aug. 31, 1992; 60 FR 20185, Apr. 25, 1995]