New Zealand Legislation: Regulations

24 Special precautions to be taken with irradiating apparatus used in radiotherapy

• (1) Every person using an irradiating apparatus to administer any beam of radiation for therapeutic purposes to another person shall keep that other person and that apparatus under constant supervision.

  (2) No person shall use an irradiating apparatus for any such treatment unless—

  • (a) The exposure is controlled by an automatic device that ends the exposure after a predetermined time or predetermined radiation dose and that has been regularly checked by the person licensed to use the apparatus; and

  • (b) A warning device of a type approved by the Director-General is provided on the control panel of the apparatus plainly indicating whether or not a beam of radiation is emerging from the apparatus.

  (3) Where an irradiating apparatus generates X-rays using a tube voltage exceeding 150 kV, or is an accelerator of subatomic particles, or is a teletherapy apparatus, a warning device as required by subclause (2)(b) of this regulation shall be placed at the entrance to the room in which it is used and an interlock system shall be installed so that when any door into the room is open the beam control mechanism automatically shuts off the beam.

  (4) The interlock system shall operate in such a way that it shall not be possible to obtain a beam from the apparatus after it has been automatically shut off except by means of a control at the control panel.