Chapter DHS 157

DHS 157.03(430)(c) (c) Stationary x-ray equipment.

DHS 157.03(431) (431) “X-ray exposure control” means a device, switch, button or other similar means by which an operator initiates or terminates the radiation exposure. An x-ray exposure control may include such associated equipment as timers and back-up timers.

DHS 157.03(432) (432) “X-ray field” means that area of the intersection of the useful beam and any one of the set of planes parallel to and including the plane of the image receptor whose perimeter is the locus of points at which the exposure rate is one-fourth of the maximum in the intersection.

DHS 157.03(433) (433) “X-ray high-voltage generator” means a device that transforms electrical energy from the potential supplied by an x-ray control to the tube operating potential. The device may also include means for transforming alternating current to direct current, filament transformers for an x-ray tube or tubes, high-voltage switches, electrical protective devices and other appropriate elements.

DHS 157.03(434) (434) “X-ray system” means an assemblage of components for the controlled production of x-rays. It includes minimally an x-ray high-voltage generator, an x-ray control, a tube housing assembly, a beam-limiting device and the necessary supporting structures. Additional components, which function with the system, are considered integral parts of the system.

DHS 157.03(435) (435) “X-ray table” means a patient support device with its patient support structure (tabletop) interposed between the patient and the image receptor during radiography or fluoroscopy. An x-ray table includes any stretcher equipped with a radiolucent panel and any table equipped with a cassette tray, cassette tunnel, image intensifier or spot-film device beneath the tabletop.

DHS 157.03(436) (436) “X-ray tube” means any electron tube designed to be used primarily for the production of x-rays.

DHS 157.03(437) (437) “Year” means the period beginning on January 1st used to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The licensee or registrant may change the starting date of the year used to determine compliance by the licensee or registrant provided that the change is made at the beginning of the year and that no day is omitted or duplicated in consecutive years.

DHS 157.03 History History: CR 01-108: cr. Register July 2002 No. 559, eff. 8-1-02; CR 06-021: am. (1), (2), (13), (46), (98), (140), (141), (198) (a), (c), (199) (b), (200) (intro.), (c), (201), (210) (a) (intro.), (224), (225), (296), (326), (327), (334), (353), (376) (b), (390), (398), (418), (419) and (428); cr. (17m), (32m), (57g), (57r), (75m), (82m), (84m), (87m), (101m), (103m), (124m), (143m), (150m), (185m), (185r), (197m), (210) (a) 5., (247m), (251m), (264m), (279m), (295m), (371m), (402m) and (419m); r. and recr. (32), (68), (198) (d) and (267); r. (210) (d), (e), (424) and (425) Register October 2006 No. 610, eff. 11-1-06; correction in (97) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637; CR 09-062: am. (5), (6), (32m) (a), (33) (a), (50) (intro.), (a), (191), (200) (intro.), (222), (374) (c), (d), (382), (388), (402m), (407) and (413), cr. (50) (c) to (e), (75r), (103r), (221m), (264r) and (429m) Register April 2010 No. 652, eff. 5-1-10; CR 16-078: cr. (6m), (12m), (25m), (36m), (56g), (56r), (77m), r. and recr. (84m), cr. (108m), (109m), (124g), (139m), (143g), (150g), (166m), (189m), (193m), r. and recr. (198), am. (200) (c), (208), cr. (215m), (219m), am. (221m), cr. (228m), (230m), (318m), (319g), (319r), (331g), (331r), (374m), (392m), (393m), (402g), am. (404), (419m) Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; correction in (25m) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., and correction in (1), (2), (16) (a), (56g), (56r), (77m), (198) (d), (397) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 22-015: am. (22), cr. (30m), (40m), (45m), (57c), (57w), (66m), am. (143), cr. (193e), am. (204), cr. (235m), (239m), renum. (251m) to (252g) and am., cr. (252r), am. (267), cr. (288m), am. (295m), cr. (331m), (336m), am. (374c), am. (391) Register June 2023 No. 810, eff. 7-1-23; correction in (239m) (a) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2023 No. 810.

DHS 157.04 DHS 157.04 Exemptions from the regulatory requirements.

DHS 157.04(1) (1) General. The department may, upon application or upon its own initiative, grant such exemptions or exceptions from the requirements of this chapter as it determines are authorized by law and will not result in undue hazard to public health and safety or property or endanger the common defense and security.

DHS 157.04(2) (2) U.S. DOE and NRC contractors. U.S. department of energy contractors or subcontractors and any NRC contractor or subcontractor in any of the following categories operating within this state are exempt from this chapter to the extent that the contractor or subcontractor under their contract receives, possesses, uses, transfers or acquires sources of radiation:

DHS 157.04(2)(a) (a) Prime contractors performing work for the U.S. department of energy at U.S. government owned or controlled sites, including the transportation of byproduct material to or from such sites and the performance of contract services during temporary interruptions of such transportation.

DHS 157.04(2)(b) (b) Prime contractors of the U.S. department of energy performing research in, or development, manufacture, storage, testing or transportation of atomic weapons or components of atomic weapons.

DHS 157.04(2)(c) (c) Prime contractors of the U.S. department of energy using or operating nuclear reactors or other nuclear devices in a United States government owned vehicle or vessel.

DHS 157.04(2)(d) (d) Any other prime contractor or subcontractor of the U.S. department of energy or of the NRC when the state and the NRC jointly determine all the following:

DHS 157.04(2)(d)1. 1. The exemption of the prime contractor or subcontractor is authorized by law.

DHS 157.04(2)(d)2. 2. Under the terms of the contract or subcontract, there is adequate assurance that the work may be accomplished without undue risk to the public health and safety.

DHS 157.04 History History: CR 01-108: cr. Register July 2002 No. 559, eff. 8-1-02.

DHS 157.05 DHS 157.05 Prohibitions.

DHS 157.05(1) (1) Devices. The following devices may not be used in Wisconsin:

DHS 157.05(1)(a) (a) A hand-held fluoroscopic screen unless it has been listed in the Registry of Sealed Source and Devices.

DHS 157.05(1)(b) (b) A shoe-fitting fluoroscopic device.

DHS 157.05(2) (2) Deliberate misconduct. No person may do any of the following:

DHS 157.05(2)(a) (a) Engage in deliberate misconduct that causes or would have caused, if not detected, a licensee, registrant or applicant under this chapter to be in violation of any rule or order of the department; or any term, condition or limitation of any license or registration issued by the department under this chapter.

DHS 157.05(2)(b) (b) Deliberately submit to the department; a licensee, registrant or applicant under this chapter; or a contractor or subcontractor of a licensee, registrant or applicant under this chapter; any information that the person knows to be incomplete or inaccurate.

DHS 157.05(3) (3) Radiation survey instrumentation. No person may operate a portable device containing radioactive material designed to measure moisture content or density of materials unless calibrated and operable radiation survey instrumentation that meets the requirements of s. DHS 157.52 (4) (a), (b) and (c) is available for use at each site where the portable devices are used.

DHS 157.05(4) (4) Training.

DHS 157.05(4)(a) (a) No person may use a portable device containing radioactive material used to measure moisture content or density of materials or determine lead content of paint unless the person has completed 8 hours of manufacturer’s training or equivalent training that meets the requirements of ch. DHS 157 Appendix S.

DHS 157.05(4)(b) (b) A person providing equivalent training under par. (a) for certified lead inspectors or risk assessors shall meet the qualification requirements of s. DHS 163.24 (3) (a) 1. and 3. and shall complete an additional 8 hours of radiation safety training.

DHS 157.05(5) (5) Physical controls. No person may use a portable device containing radioactive material designed to measure moisture content or density of materials unless there is a minimum of 2 independent physical controls that form tangible barriers to secure the device from unauthorized removal, whenever the device is not under the control and constant surveillance of the licensee.

DHS 157.05 History History: CR 01-108: cr. Register July 2002 No. 559, eff. 8-1-02; CR 06-021: am. (1) (a) and (3), cr. (5) Register October 2006 No. 610, eff. 11-1-06; correction in (4) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637; CR 09-062: cr. (5) (title) Register April 2010 No. 652, eff. 5-1-10; correction in (4) (a) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2018 No. 745.

DHS 157.06 DHS 157.06 General regulatory requirements.

DHS 157.06(1) (1) Records. A licensee or registrant shall maintain records showing the receipt, transfer and disposal of all sources of radiation until the department terminates the license or registration authorizing possession of the device or material, and for 3 years following transfer or disposal of the device or material.

DHS 157.06 Note Note: Additional record requirements are specified elsewhere in this chapter.

DHS 157.06(2) (2) Inspections.

DHS 157.06(2)(a) (a) A licensee or registrant shall afford the department at all reasonable times opportunity to inspect sources of radiation, packaging and the premises and facilities on which the sources of radiation are used or stored and consult with workers.

DHS 157.06(2)(b) (b) Each licensee and registrant shall make available to the department for inspection, upon reasonable notice, records maintained under this chapter.

DHS 157.06(2)(c) (c) The department shall provide official notification in writing of the inspection findings, including any notice of violation, to the licensee or registrant.

DHS 157.06(3) (3) Tests. A licensee or registrant shall perform upon instructions from the department, or shall permit the department to perform, such reasonable tests as the department deems appropriate or necessary including tests of any of the following:

DHS 157.06(3)(a) (a) Sources of radiation.

DHS 157.06(3)(b) (b) Facilities wherein sources of radiation are used or stored.

DHS 157.06(3)(c) (c) Radiation detection and monitoring instruments.

DHS 157.06(3)(d) (d) Other equipment and devices used with utilization or storage of licensed or registered sources of radiation.

DHS 157.06(4) (4) Units of exposure and dose.

DHS 157.06(4)(a) (a) The unit of exposure is the coulomb per kilogram of air. One roentgen is equal to 2.58E-4 coulomb per kilogram of air.

DHS 157.06(4)(b) (b) The units of dose are any of the following:

DHS 157.06(4)(b)1. 1. Gray is the SI unit of absorbed dose. One gray is equal to an absorbed dose of one joule per kilogram (100 rad).

DHS 157.06(4)(b)2. 2. Rad is the special unit of absorbed dose. One rad is equal to an absorbed dose of 100 erg per gram or 0.01 joule per kilogram.

DHS 157.06(4)(b)3. 3. Rem is the special unit of any of the quantities expressed as dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in rem is equal to the absorbed dose in rad multiplied by the quality factor.

DHS 157.06 Note Note: 0.01 sievert equals one rem.

DHS 157.06(4)(b)4. 4. Sievert is the SI unit of any of the quantities expressed as dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in sievert is equal to the absorbed dose in gray multiplied by the quality factor.

DHS 157.06 Note Note: One sievert equals 100 rem.

DHS 157.06(4)(c) (c) The quality factors for converting absorbed dose to dose equivalent are shown in Table DHS 157.06A.

- See PDF for table

DHS 157.06 Note Note: Absorbed dose in gray equal to one Sv or the absorbed dose in rad equal to one rem.

DHS 157.06(4)(d) (d) If it is more convenient to measure the neutron fluence rate than to determine the neutron dose equivalent rate in sievert per hour or rem per hour, as provided in par. (c), 0.01 Sv (1 rem) of neutron radiation of unknown energies may be assumed to result from a total fluence of 25 million neutrons per square centimeter incident upon the body. If sufficient information exists to estimate the approximate energy distribution of the neutrons, a licensee or registrant may use the fluence rate per unit dose equivalent or the appropriate Q value from Table DHS 157.06B to convert a measured tissue dose in gray or rad to dose equivalent in sievert or rem.

Table DHS 157.06B
Mean Quality Factors, Q, and Fluence Per Unit Dose
Equivalent for Monoenergetic Neutrons

- See PDF for table

DHS 157.06 Note a Value of quality factor at the point where the dose equivalent is maximum in a 30-centimeter diameter cylinder tissue-equivalent phantom.

DHS 157.06 Note b Monoenergetic neutrons incident normally on a 30-centimeter diameter cylinder tissue-equivalent phantom.

DHS 157.06(5) (5) Units of activity. For purposes of this chapter, activity is expressed in the SI unit of becquerel or in the special unit of curie, or their multiples, or disintegrations or transformations per unit of time. One becquerel = one disintegration or transformation per second. One curie = 3.7E+10 disintegrations or transformations per second = 3.7E+10 becquerel = 2.22E+12 disintegrations or transformations per minute.

DHS 157.06 History History: CR 01-108: cr. Register July 2002 No. 559, eff. 8-1-02.

subch. II of ch. DHS 157 Subchapter II — Licensing of Radioactive Material

DHS 157.09 DHS 157.09 Exemptions.

DHS 157.09(1) (1) Exemptions of source material.

DHS 157.09(1)(a) (a) A person is exempt from subchs. III and X if the person receives, possesses, uses, owns or transfers any of the following types and forms of source material:

DHS 157.09(1)(a)1. 1. Any chemical mixture, compound, solution or alloy in which the source material by weight is less than 1/20 of one percent of the mixture, compound, solution or alloy.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)2. 2. Unrefined and unprocessed ore containing source material provided that, except as authorized in a specific license, the person does not refine or process the ore.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)3. 3. Rare earth metals and compounds, mixtures and products containing not more than 0.25% by weight thorium, uranium or any combination of these.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4. 4. Any quantities of thorium contained in any of the following:

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4.a. a. Incandescent gas mantles.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4.b. b. Vacuum tubes.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4.c. c. Welding rods.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4.d. d. Electric lamps for illuminating purposes provided that a lamp does not contain more than 50 milligrams of thorium.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4.e. e. Germicidal lamps, sunlamps and lamps for outdoor or industrial lighting provided that a lamp does not contain more than 2 grams of thorium.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)4.f. f. Personnel neutron dosimeters, provided that a dosimeter does not contain more than 50 milligrams of thorium.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)5. 5. Source material contained in any of the following products:

DHS 157.09(1)(a)5.a. a. Glazed ceramic tableware manufactured before August 27, 2013, provided that the glaze contains not more than 20% by weight source material.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)5.b. b. Glassware containing not more than 2% by weight source material, or for glassware manufactured before August 27, 2013, 10% by weight source material; but not including commercially manufactured glass brick, pane glass, ceramic tile, or other glass or ceramic used in construction.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)5.c. c. Glass enamel or glass enamel frit containing not more than 10% by weight source material imported or ordered for importation into the United States or initially distributed by manufacturers in the United States, before July 25, 1983.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)5.d. d. Piezoelectric ceramic containing not more than 2% by weight source material.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)6. 6. Photographic film, negatives and prints containing uranium or thorium.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)7. 7. Any finished product or part fabricated of tungsten-thorium or magnesium-thorium alloys, or containing tungsten-thorium or magnesium-thorium alloys, provided that the thorium content of the alloy does not exceed 4% by weight and that this exemption is not deemed to authorize the chemical, physical or metallurgical treatment or processing of any product or part.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)8. 8. Uranium contained in counterweights installed in aircraft, rockets, projectiles or missiles or stored or handled in connection with installation or removal of the counterweights, under all of the following conditions:

DHS 157.09(1)(a)8.a. a. Each counterweight has been impressed with the following legend clearly legible through any plating or other covering: “DEPLETED URANIUM”. This requirement need not be met by counterweights manufactured prior to December 31, 1969 provided that the counterweights are impressed with the legend “CAUTION — RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL — URANIUM”.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)8.b. b. Each counterweight is durably and legibly labeled or marked with the identification of the manufacturer and the statement, “UNAUTHORIZED ALTERATIONS PROHIBITED”. This requirement need not be met by counterweights manufactured prior to December 31, 1969 provided that the counterweights are impressed with the legend “CAUTION — RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL — URANIUM”.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)8.c. c. This exemption may not be deemed to authorize the chemical, physical or metallurgical treatment or processing of any of these counterweights other than repair or restoration of any plating or other covering.

DHS 157.09(1)(a)9. 9. Natural or depleted uranium metal used as shielding constituting part of any shipping container, provided that the shipping container is conspicuously and legibly impressed with the legend “CAUTION — RADIOACTIVE SHIELDING — URANIUM”; and the uranium metal is encased in mild steel or equally fire resistant metal of minimum wall thickness of 3.2 millimeter (one-eighth inch).