About the X-Ray Machine Program

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The purpose of this section of the website is to provide a brief introduction into why and how ionizing radiation producing machines are administered and regulated here at OSU.

 

Any machine which is capable of producing ionizing radiation (and is not specifically exempted) is regulated by the state of Oklahoma i.e. users are required to obtain a permit from the state to possess the machine and they are further required to register the machine with the state. The state agency which regulates the machine depends upon the purpose of the machine. For example, diagnostic machines are regulated by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, while analytical machines (most research x-ray devices) are regulated by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. In a large organization or institution, such as OSU, where many machines are present, the regulating agencies typically issue a single permit and individual users register their machines under this one permit. This is indeed the case at OSU. The OSU permit for Analytical Machines is held by the OSU Radiation Safety Office, and individual machines are registered by the Radiation Safety Office and thus “attached” to this permit. Procurement, possession, storage, use, and disposal of these machines require compliance with the applicable state regulations, and the OSU Radiation Safety Office has further been charged with ensuring that individual campus users or such machines are subject to these regulations.

 

While requirements to bring a new user and/or machine onto OSU’s permit vary slightly depending on the machine and user, the following provides a general outline of the steps required. As mentioned all of these may not apply (for example users have already taken the training while using another machine need not repeat it) so please check with the Radiation Safety Office prior to purchasing your new machine.

 

 

The Radiation Safety Office is here to assist Principle Investigators and users in the timely completion and compliance with these state mandated regulatory requirements.