Radiation Apparatus

In accordance with the NSW Radiation Control Regulations 2013, all radiation apparatus must be registered with the EPA under a Radiation Management Licence. At UNSW, custodians of X-ray equipment must submit the registration application to the Radiation Safety Committee for review and recommendation to the DVCRE for registration with the EPA. 

• To apply for Radiation Apparatus Registration - log into iRECS to submit your application. You will receive a notification once your application has been assigned to a meeting. Please ensure you submit your application 2 weeks prior to the relevant RSC meeting date. 
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If your X-ray equipment is to be used or intended to be used for medical, veterinary or dental purposes, it must be inspected by an external EPA accredited Consulting Radiation Expert and issued with a certificate of compliance. A list of EPA accredited Consulting Radiation Expert can be found on the EPA website. 

Refer to the below documents for registration requirements & industry best practice.

• Part 1: Mammography
• Part 2: Fluoroscopy & radiography
• Part 3: Dentistry (including maxillofacial)
• Part 4: Veterinary science
• Part 5: Computed tomography & bone mineral densitometer
• Part 6: Test protocols for parts 2 - 5

The certificate of compliance must be obtained:

• before the apparatus is registered with the Regulator, or
• within 2 years of the anniversaryof initial compliance certification - for mammography apparatus, fluoroscopy apparatus, computed tomography apparatus, and for apparatus that may be used for both fluoroscopy and radiography, or
• within 5 years of initial certification - for dental radiography apparatus, radiography apparatus, and bone mineral density apparatus, or
• if modifications have been made that affect the compliance of the apparatus with the requirements of the EPA Radiation Guideline 6, or
• if the apparatus has been relocated and reassembled, or
• where the purpose for which the apparatus is used has changed, or
• in addition, in the case of mammography apparatus, an annual certificate is required in relation to mean glandular dose requirements or following any service or modification that may affect patient dose.

Depending on which X-ray equipment you're working with, the EPA user licence type may vary. Some of the common licence types and their associated EPA-certified training course are:

• IA5 Use radiation apparatus for analytical purposes
• IA8 Use radiation apparatus for scientific or research purposes
• IA19 Use portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) radiation apparatus for analysis
• IA27 Use radiation apparatus for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

How to apply for an EPA user licence: 

How to work with X-ray equipment under exemption:

1. complete the online module Level 1: Introduction to Radiation Safety @ UNSW  by following enrolment instructions below

        2. receive operational training by the apparatus' custodian

        3. receive an exemption written by a GE1 licence holder who either provides direct supervision or assigns supervision to another licensee who is deemed competent by the GE1 licence holder in accordance with the EPA exemption criteria.

Personal monitoring

A personal monitoring device is designed to measure, over a specified period of time, the radiation dose received by a person who is occupationally exposed to radiation. The Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) monitor measures potential occupational doses from gamma radiation and X-rays. Depending on the specific work carried out, different types of monitors (extremity monitor, or  body) can be requested. Monitors can be collected for reading at various exposure periods (4 or 12 weeks).

OSLs are issued to individual wearers who are registered with the badge service. As it is used to determine the dose received by the wearer identified on the badge, never wear someone else's nor loan out yours. OSLs should be worn at chest or waist height and should be underneath protective equipment such as lead aprons when these are worn.

Outside of working hours, or when not in use, OSLs should not be worn, but placed in storage with the control. This is necessary to ensure environmental conditions do not adversely affect the monitor and control differently and to reduce the possibility of their loss. This procedure also avoids the delays that frequently arise in returning monitors to the Personal Radiation Monitoring Service due to an individual being on leave at the end of a wearing period and not having left the monitor in the appropriate storage place.       

At UNSW,  the local Radiation Safety Supervisor liaises directly with ARPANSA Personal Radiation Monitoring Service to register for new monitoring badge and monitor their readings. 

For further information please contact your local Radiation Safety Supervisor.

• Guidelines to correct handling and use of personal dosimeter