§ 175.46 Requirements for an Operator's Booth.
RCNY § 175.46
(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 m 2 (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.
(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 m 2 (1 square foot); (ii) regardless of size or shape, at least 0.09 m 2 (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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(k)Radiation exposure control.
(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)
