1. Bureau of Radiological Health (BRH) Achievements for Fiscal Year 2006
2. 2006 Public Hearings: New Jersey Radiological Emergency Response Plan
3. AM Radio Burns at Xanadu Construction Site

1. Bureau of Radiological Health (BRH) Achievements for Fiscal Year 2006

The BRH met or exceeded its inspection goals for most x-ray machine source categories in fiscal year 2006. The Bureau inspected 3,357 facilities and evaluated compliance on 8,810 x-ray machines. Work plan targets were 3,100 facilities and 7,866 machines. These inspections resulted in the issuance of 727 enforcement documents of which 18.6% contained penalty assessments totaling $91,800. There were 1,246 violations of radiation protection codes of which 619 (49.7%) were violations of quality assurance regulations. The majority of quality assurance regulation violations were for failure to conduct various quality control tests. 203 (33%) and failure to have an annual medical physicist’s survey performed, 120 (19%). The majority of violations in non-quality assurance categories were for equipment performance issues, 226 (36%) and failure to perform or submit radiation safety surveys, 177 (28.2%).

The Bureau achieved its goal of inspecting all 241 federally certified mammography facilities. New Jersey mammography facilities had higher compliance rates than national averages reported by the Food and Drug Administration (79% vs. 73%).

The Bureau achieved or exceeded most of its goals within the Technologist Certification Section. The Section processed 2,221 license renewals and examination applications and 866 clinical affiliate applications. 8,122 x-ray operators’ license credentials were reviewed resulting in 37 individuals being cited for working with an expired license or without a license, and penalties totaling $26,500 were assessed. The Section evaluated fifteen educational programs including four dental programs whose approval was revoked by the Board of Radiologic Technologists. The Bureau currently has 21,883 active licenses which is an increase of 1,575 (7.8%) from the same time period last year. There are eight fewer Board approved dental radiography educational programs as compared to the same time period last year.

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2. 2006 Public Hearings: New Jersey Radiological Emergency Response Plan

Pursuant to the “Radiation Accident Response Act”, N.J.S.A. 26:2D-37 et seq., the Department in cooperation with the Division of State Police held public hearings to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the New Jersey Radiological Emergency Response Plan. The hearings were held on the following dates:

• July 12, 2006 Ocean County Administration Building
• July 20, 2006 Cumberland Emergency Operations Center

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3. AM Radio Burns at Xanadu Construction Site

On July 26, 2006 a call was received from Senator Stephen Sweeney’s office regarding a steel worker that had received skin burns from touching metallic objects at the Xanadu construction site, near the Continental Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The most recent phase of the construction brought in a crane approximately 350 feet from the WEPN AM radio towers. It is not uncommon for electrical charges to collect on metallic objects when immersed in a radiofrequency (RF) field.

Apparently this has been and ongoing problem throughout the project but construction is now taking place closer to the towers. At this point at least two workers have been injured; more injuries may have occurred but have not been reported. While filed strength levels may be in compliance with the regulatory limits specified in N.J.A.C. 7:28-42, Radiofrequency Radiation, contact current burns can occur as far as 1000 meters from radio station antennas. These injuries emphasize the importance of revising Subchapter 42 (currently in draft form), which will contain induced and contact current limits.

As a result of the reported injuries, on July 31, 2006 Patricia Gardner and Deborah Wenke, Bureau of Environmental Radiation, attended a meeting at the New Jersey Department of Labor. A representative from the local OSHA office was there, in addition to representatives from the construction company’s developer, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. A representative from Senator Sweeney’s office was on the speakerphone. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss worker safety issues. Earlier in the project, the steel company hired an RF consultant to recommend safe work practices, but additional worker training and more stringent safety procedures need to be implemented. The possibility of bringing in a federal expert from OSHA’s Salt Lake Technical Center was discussed. The construction company hopes to have a new safety plan in place by August 3, 2006 so that work can resume on the steel superstructure.

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