Section 351.430  Inspection, Maintenance, and Opening of a Sealed Source or Source Holder

a)         Each licensee or registrant shall visually check source holders, logging tools, and source handling tools for defects before each use to ensure that the equipment is in good working condition and required labeling is present. If defects are found, the equipment shall be removed from service until repaired and a record must be made listing the date of the check, name of the inspector, equipment involved, defects found, and repairs made. Records shall be retained for 3 years after the defect is found.

b)         Each licensee or registrant shall have a program for semiannual visual inspection and routine maintenance of source holders, logging tools, injection tools, source handling tools, storage containers, transport containers, and uranium sinker bars to ensure that the required labeling is legible and no physical damage is visible. If defects are found, the equipment shall be removed from service until repaired and a record made listing the date, equipment involved, inspection and maintenance operations performed, any defects found, and any actions taken to correct the defects. Records shall be retained for 3 years after the defect is found.

c)                  Removal of a sealed source from a source holder or logging tool and maintenance on sealed sources or holders in which sealed sources are contained may not be performed by the licensee unless a written procedure developed pursuant to Section 351.630 has been approved by the Agency pursuant to Section 351.130(c) or by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or an Agreement State.

d)                  If a sealed source is stuck in the source holder, the licensee may not perform any operation, such as drilling, cutting, or chiseling, on the source holder unless the licensee is specifically approved by the Agency, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or an Agreement State to perform this operation.

e)                  The repair, opening, or modification of any sealed source shall be performed only by persons specifically authorized to do so by the Agency, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or an Agreement State.