SURVIVING AN INSPECTION

Regulatory Issues:

• Licensure by State Department of Nuclear Safety/Homeland Security or NRC
   

• Current License required or a "Timely Filed Notice"

• Pop Quiz- Who Is Licensed?
   

• Who Are The Inspectors?
   

• Agreement States Vs Non-Agreement States

Preparation for An Inspection-

We MUST be aware of our Day to Day Obligations and the Expectations of the Inspectors.

• Record data on a daily basis- assume inspector is coming tomorrow. It is impossible to retrace your steps after a relatively short period of time.

  • Don’t “create” missing data-  it makes inspectors mad!!

  • Have a Outside Expert perform a mock inspection

    • Determine your level of preparedness

    • Identify any deficiencies

    • Recommend corrective procedures

  •  

• Keep Up To Date All Necessary Logbooks

• Post All Radiation Safety Rules and other Applicable Signage

Inspector's Favorite Places to Look

•     Injection Policy
•     Dose Calibrator QC Logbook
•     Incoming Package Logbook
•     Personnel Monitoring Logbook
•     Temperature Monitoring Logbook
•     High-dose I-131 Therapy Records

Radiation Safety Inspection Issues

Inspector's Favorite Tricks:

• A technologist is taken aside and asked questions

• The inspector extracts a vial from the waste bin and asks you to show entry of this vial in incoming package logbook.
• The inspector asks you to prove that you performed QC on your dose calibrator when on call on a legal holiday or a Sunday.
• The technologists hands and shoes are monitored without warning.
• GM Counter monitoring of "cold" trash bin
• Monitoring of the treadmill and the surrounding environment.

Guidelines For A Successful Inspection

•  Keep the inspector in the back of your mind every working day. Try to think like the inspector when completing documentation.

• Make sure than an item of non-compliance from a previous inspection has been corrected- that’s the first place the inspector will look.

• Don’t panic during an inspection- be confident, polite, and honest. Sense of humor is a plus.

• Don’t offer any information other than what the inspector requests.

• Be personably responsible for your continuing education requirements

• Pay close attention to suggestions and recommendations made during the exit interview.