In the State of Minnesota you are required to do several types of testing at regular periods to maintain your X-ray and processing equipment.

Minnesota's 4732 Radiation Rule

MDH Quality Assurance Program
MDH Informational notice on ALARA
MDH How to survive a site inspection

Daily:

• PROCESSOR QC: Perform Processor Quality Control using a CrabTree or Aluminum stepwedge depending on whether you have only intra-orals or if you have an extra oral cassette (pan or ceph). A test must be done per processor. Daily testing records and films must be kept.
  
  MDH Processor QC Crabtree Form
  MDH Processor QC Stepwedge Form

Every 6 months:

• FOG TESTING: Fog Testing of the dark room - This is sometimes called the "penny test". We check for light leakage by placing a coin on an un-exposed film and then we dance around in the dark room for two minutes. You do not want to remain stationary as you may be blocking rays of light. If the processed film shows no outline then the darkroom is sealed. If an outline is visible however, there is a light leak that is fogging the film and the light leak must be eliminated.
  
  MDH Darkroom Fog Testing Intraoral
  MDH Darkroom Fog Testing Extraoral
  
  MDH Building a Darkroom

Yearly:

• SAFETY INSPECTIONS: X-Ray machines must be checked for structural integrity and normal operation. This inspection is normally performed by a staff member designated as the Radiation Safety Officer or RSO.
  
  MDH Yearly Radiation Program Audits

Biennially:

• CALIBRATIONS: All X-Ray machines must be inspected / calibrated by a service technician. These reports must be kept. We use the most advanced testing equipment in the state, the Unfors Xi. Call us at (800) 826-8704 to request this service.
  

  
  
  
  RECORDS THAT WE USE:
  R-Tech Blank Calibration Record
  R-Tech Intra-Oral Technique Charts (3)
  R-Tech Panoramic Technique Charts (3)
  R-Tech Cephalometric Technique Charts (3)
  MDH Dental Technique Chart Information
  
  OUR TEST TOOL INFORMATION:
  Unfors Xi R/F Test Tool Calibration
  
  OUR STATE LICENSES / REGISTRATIONS:
  Minnesota State Provider License
  Iowa State Registration
  
  

• FILM SCREEN CONTACT: Film screen contact must be performed by a technician with a Screen/Contact test tool. Films from these tests must be kept. Call us at (800) 826-8704 to request this service.
  
  MDH Screen Contact Test Instructions
  
  
• CASSETTE SPEED MATCH: Cassette Speed match must be performed if you have more than one extra-oral cassette of the same type (aka two pan cassettes or two ceph cassettes)
  
  MDH Cassette Speed Match Test Instructions
  MDH Screen Film Speed Combinations

X-Ray Installation / Registration:

All new X-Ray installations or changes to X-Ray installations require registration paperwork to be completed.

MDH Initial registration of X-Ray equipment
MDH Adding new X-Ray equipment to your office
MDH Moving X-Ray equipment to another branch office
MDH Changing facility ownership or facility information

Shielding:

All new facilities or office remodels that will contain a Panoramic or a Cephalometric X-Ray require a shielding plan to be filed and approved by the state prior to installation of the pan or ceph. Placards need to be placed within Pan/Ceph rooms that show the shielding plan.

MDH Notice on Dental Shielding
MDH Shielding Presentation
MDH Shielding Plan Review
MDH Shielding Placard Requirements
MDH Occupational Exposure

X-Ray Waste:

Many offices are going digital and avoiding this problem all together, but for the offices that still use film processors it is necessary that the film waste, fixer, and lead foil all be handled properly. Below are instructions from the MPCA on how to do that, and a contact list of existing waste haulers. The MDH also has a list of local waste disposal companies.

MPCA Managing photographic and X-Ray waste
MPCA Form 6.11 List of hazardous waste haulers
MDH Disposal Services List

MDH Radiation Bulletins:

MDH March 2008
MDH April 2008
MDH May 2008
MDH June 2008
MDH July 2008
MDH August 2008
MDH September 2008
MDH October 2008
MDH November 2008
MDH December 2008
MDH January 2009
MDH February 2009
MDH March 2009
MDH April 2009
MDH May 2009
MDH June 2009
MDH July 2009
MDH August 2009
MDH September 2009
MDH October 2009
MDH November 2009

Additional requirements:

• Staff training
• Radiation control manual
• Various printed material

For creation of a radiation safety program or the creation of a radiation safety manual, we recommend that you contact:

Statements Plus Compliance Solutions
Leanne M. Mathieu Kramer
(763) 878-2150
(763) 878-2151 FAX
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http://statementspluscompliancesolutions.com