R 325.5203 Exposure of individuals to radiation.

Rule 203. (1) Except as provided in subrules (3),(4), and (6) of this rule, a licensee or registrant shall not receive, possess, use, or transfer sources of radiation in a manner as to cause any individual to receive in any period from all sources of radiation in the licensee's or registrant's possession a dose in excess of the limits specified in table 1 of Rule 205. A licensee or registrant shall not be held liable for meeting the dose limit for fertile women (with respect to fetus) listed in table 1 until and unless the employee has submitted written notice to the licensee or registrant of the pregnant condition. Potential risk of exposure, if any, to the fetus before the written notice is received shall be assumed by the employee as a condition of employment as a radiation worker. Following receipt of written notice, the employee's dosimeter record shall be reviewed immediately and necessary steps shall be taken to meet the dose limit specified in table 1 of Rule 205. (2) For determining the doses specified in Rules 203 to 215, a dose from x- or gamma rays up to 10 MeV may be assumed to be equivalent to the exposure measured by a properly calibrated appropriate instrument in air at or near the body surface of the region of the highest exposure rate. (3) A licensee or registrant may permit an individual in a restricted area to receive a dose to the whole body greater than that permitted in subrule (1) of this rule, under any of the following conditions: (a) The annual dose does not exceed 5 rems in any 1 year and during any calendar quarter the dose to the whole body from sources of radiation in the licensee's or registrant's possession does not exceed 3 rems. (b) The dose to the whole body, when added to the accumulated occupational dose to the whole body, does not exceed 5 (N-18) rems where "N" equals the individual's age in years at his or her last birthday. (c) The licensee or registrant has determined the individual's accumulated occupational dose to the whole body on Form RH-101, or on a clear and legible record containing all the information required in that form and has otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 206. (4) Upon application showing an operational need, the department may authorize radiation doses at a higher annual level than the limits set forth in subrule (1) of this rule, provided that the dose does not exceed 3 rems per quarter and that, based on the determination of the individual's prior radiation record, his or her accumulated occupational dose does not exceed 5 (N-18) rems where "N" equals the individual's age in years at his or her last birthday. (5) As used in this part, "dose to the whole body" includes any dose to the whole body, gonads, active blood-forming organs, head and trunk, or lens of the eye. (6) Nothing in this part shall be interpreted as limiting the exposure of members of emergency response teams to radiation under emergency circumstances for the purpose of minimizing danger to life or property. Teams may include police, fire, ambulance, and paramedical crews acting in the course of their assigned duties.