§ 175.46 — Requirements for an Operator's Booth

§ 175.46 Requirements for an Operator's Booth.

(a) Stationary radiographic systems. Stationary radiographic systems must have the x- ray control, including the exposure switch, permanently mounted in a protected area so that the operator must remain in that protected area during the entire exposure. (b) Mobile, portable, podiatric, dental (except CBCT), and mammographic radiographic installations are exempt from the requirements of 24 RCNY Health Code § 175.46(d) through (g), and must meet the requirements in 24 RCNY Health Code § 175.46(h) or (i). (c) Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems are exempt from the requirements of this section, and must meet the requirements of 24 RCNY Health Code § 175.52. (d) Space requirements. (1) The operator must be allotted at least 0.70 m2 (7.5 square feet) of unobstructed floor space in the booth; (2) The operator's booth may be any geometric configuration with all dimensions at least 0.6 m (2 feet); (3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision only apply to installations constructed after July 1, 2021. (4) The space must not have any obstruction near the x-ray control panel, such as overhang, cables, or other similar obstructions; (5) The booth must be located or constructed such that unattenuated direct scatter radiation originating on the examination table or at the wall-mounted image receptor will not reach the operator's position in the booth. (e) Structural requirements. (1) The booth walls must be permanently fixed barriers of at least 2.1 m (7 feet) high; (2) When a door or movable panel is used as an integral part of the booth structure, it must have an interlock which will prevent an exposure when the door or panel is not closed; (3) Shielding must be provided to meet the requirements for the occupational radiation exposure requirements of this Article. (f) Radiation exposure control placement. The radiation exposure control for the system must be fixed within the booth and: (1) must be at least 1.0 m (40 inches) from any point subject to direct scatter, leakage or primary beam radiation; and, (2) must allow the operator to use the majority of the available viewing windows. (g) Viewing system requirements. Each booth must have at least one viewing device which will: (1) be so placed that the operator can view the patient during any exposure; and (2) be so placed that the operator can have full view of any occupant of the room and should be so placed that the operator can view any entry into the room. If any door which allows access to the room cannot be seen from the booth, then outside that door there must be an "x-ray on" warning sign that will be lighted whenever an x-ray exposure is initiated. Alternatively, an interlock must be present such that exposures are prevented when the door is open. (3) When the viewing system is a window, the following requirements also apply: (i) the window must have a viewing area of at least 0.09 m2 (1 square foot); (ii) regardless of size or shape, at least 0.09 m2 (1 square foot) of the window area must be centered no less than 0.6 m (2 feet) from the open edge of the booth and no less than 1.5 m (5.0 feet) from the floor; (iii) the window must have at least the same lead equivalence as that required in the booth's wall in which it is mounted. (4) When the viewing system is by mirrors, the mirrors must be located to allow the operator to view the patient during any exposure and allow full view of any occupant of, or entry into the room. (5) When the viewing system is by electronic means, the camera shall be located to allow the operator to view the patient during any exposure and allow full view of any occupant of, or entry into the room. (h) Mobile, portable, podiatric and dental radiographic installations (except CBCT), excluding mammographic systems. (1) Mobile, portable, podiatric and dental x-ray equipment must allow an operator to stand at least 2 m (6.5 ft.) from the patient or behind a protective barrier of at least 2.1 m (7 feet) high, and not in the path of the primary x-ray beam whenever an x-ray exposure is initiated. (2) Mobile and portable x-ray systems, excluding dental and podiatric systems, that are used continuously for greater than one week in the same location shall be deemed a fixed radiographic installation and must meet the operator protection standards for fixed radiographic equipment. (3) Each operator of a mobile or portable radiographic x-ray unit, excluding dental and podiatric units, must be provided with personnel monitoring as provided in 24 RCNY Health Code § 175.17 and must wear a protective garment of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent. (i) Mammographic installations. The operator of the mammographic equipment must initiate x-ray exposures from the control console of the mammographic equipment with protective shielding for the operator that meets the following criteria: (1) the shielding must be a height of 2.1 m (7 ft.) from the floor, with the lower edge not more than 7.5 cm (3 in.) from the floor. The shielding must be constructed as a permanent operator shield such that the operator can stand completely within the shielded area during the exposure; and (2) the exposure control must be permanently fixed on the mammographic control console; and (3) the operator must be able to communicate with and view the patient from the operator's protected position during the exposure. (j) Operator protective garments. (1) The facility must include a written policy and procedure in the quality assurance manual that conforms to the manufacturer's recommended care and use policy for lead protective garments and is adhered to on a continuing basis. This policy, at a minimum, must describe the training of Licensed Radiologic Technologists (LRTs) on the proper care and usage of protective garments; how storage sites for lead protective garments will be evaluated and maintained; and include procedures for how LRTs report lead protective garment problems to the radiation safety officer. (2) All protective garments must be checked annually for defects such as holes (not including pinholes that do not affect the performance of the protective garment), cracks, and tears by using one or more of the following methods: visual investigation, tactile investigation, or x-ray imaging. Protective garments that are used by operators conducting fluoroscopic procedures must be checked using all three methods listed. If a defect is found, the lead protective garment must be removed from service and either replaced or repaired as needed to conform to the manufacturers' specifications. (k) Radiation exposure control. (1) Exposure initiation. Means must be provided to initiate the radiation exposure by a deliberate action on the part of the operator, such as the depression of a switch. Radiation exposure must not be initiated without such an action. In addition, it must not be possible to initiate an exposure when the timer is set to a "zero" or "off" position if either position is provided. (2) Exposure indication. Means must be provided for visual indication observable at or from the operator's protected position whenever x-rays are produced. In addition, an audible signal to the operator must indicate that the exposure has terminated. (l) Operator and ancillary personnel protection for veterinary systems. All stationary, mobile or portable x-ray systems used for veterinary work must be provided with either a 2 meter (6.5 feet) high protective barrier for operator protection during exposures, or must allow the operator to be at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) from the tube housing assembly during exposures. Otherwise, in cases where animals are held, the operator and ancillary personnel must be protected by a minimum of 0.25 mm lead equivalent from scatter radiation and 0.5 mm from the useful beam. (Added City Record 4/24/2019, eff. 5/24/2019)