Equipment Testing & Compliance Certificates

Page content: Testing of prescribed radiation sources | Radiation safety standards | Approved Testers

Testing of prescribed radiation sources

The Radiation Act 2005 and the Radiation Regulations 2007 require that “Prescribed Radiation Sources” must be issued with a certificate of compliance by the date specified in the regulations. These certificates can only be issued by a person approved by the Department. These persons are called 'approved testers'.

The following types of X-ray equipment “when used for human diagnostic imaging purposes” have been prescribed by the Regulations and require periodic testing against the Radiation Safety Standards.

• Plain Film Radiographic X-ray Equipment
• Fluoroscopic X-ray Equipment
• Computed Tomography Scanners
• Mammography X-ray Equipment

Enforcing compliance with a set of robust safety standards helps to ensure that the continual production of optimum quality images with the minimum necessary dose to the patient.

The regulations define the periods of currency of certificates of compliance issued for each type of radiation source. For example, a certificate of compliance issued for a CT scanner is valid for one year. The regulations prescribe exactly when a type of apparatus must have its first test in order for it to continue to be used without contravening the Act.

A certificate of compliance will not be required where a management licence holder possesses one of the prescribed radiation sources but the source is not actually used.

To ensure that the new system of source testing is introduced smoothly, the requirement to have a current certificate of compliance prior to a prescribed radiation source being used is being introduced in stages:

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Radiation Safety Standards

Fluoroscopic X-ray equipment

This Radiation Safety Standard deals with diagnostic fluoroscopic X-ray equipment including under-table tube, mobile and C-arm image intensifiers used for human diagnostic purposes.

Radiation Safety Standard: Fluoroscopic X-ray equipment (252kb, pdf)

Mammography X-ray equipment

This Radiation Safety Standard deals with mammography X-ray equipment used for human diagnostic purposes. It does not include digital mammography.

Radiation Safety Standard: Mammography X-ray equipment (234kb, pdf)

Plain film radiographic X-ray equipment

This Radiation Safety Standard deals with diagnostic plain film radiographic X-ray equipment (including mobile) used in the medical and chiropractic areas for human diagnostic purposes.

Radiation Safety Standard: Plain film radiographic X-ray equipment (219kb, pdf)

Computed Tomography (CT) equipment

This Radiation Safety Standard deals with CT equipment used in the medical sector for human diagnostic purposes.

Computed Tomography (CT) equipment (95kb, pdf)

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Approved Testers

An approved tester is a person who has the necessary qualifications and experience to assess whether a radiation source complies with the relevant radiation safety standards.

The person must hold a testers approval issued under the Radiation Act 2005. The approval lists the types of radiation sources for which the approved tester may issue a certificate of compliance.

Certificates of compliance may only be issued by persons who hold a valid testers approval.

The department maintains a list of the approved testers who are available to test radiation sources on a fee for service basis.

List of Approved Testers (57kb, pdf)

This list will be updated continuously as new testers are approved. Management licensees with prescribed equipment need to contact an approved tester and arrange an appointment for their equipment to be tested.

Persons who wish to become an approved tester can apply to the Department. Criteria for assessment and application forms are available on the licensing page under “Approved Testers”.

If you have any further enquiries in the meantime please call the Radiation Safety Hotline on 1300 657 283.

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