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FAQs

Does the revised "Ordinance on Prevention of Ionizing Radiation Hazards" in Japan affect X-ray products?

Category
X-Ray Inspection System FAQ

No, the revision does not impose any changes on our products.

Our X-ray inspection systems are fully shielded cabinet-type systems, and the new regulatory requirements mainly target walk-in ("irradiation room") type X-ray installations. You can continue using our products exactly as before, with no changes to operation procedures.

Background of the Revision
To help our global customers understand the high safety standards behind Japanese regulations, here is the context of the recent amendment.

  1. Triggering Incident
    The revision was prompted by a radiation exposure accident in 2021 at a manufacturing facility in Japan. During maintenance work, operators entered an X-ray irradiation room while the source was still active. Investigations identified two major safety issues:
    Disabled Interlocks:
    Door interlocks, which are designed to stop X-ray emission when a door is opened, had been intentionally disabled.
    Insufficient Warning Systems:
    At that time, walk-in irradiation rooms were not legally required to have automatic warning alarms.
  2. Key Regulatory Changes
    To prevent a recurrence, the Japanese government strengthened safety requirements for walk-in X-ray facilities.
    Expanded Responsibilities:
    The duties of the designated X-ray Work Supervisor were broadened to ensure stricter oversight of safety devices and operating procedures.
    Enhanced Safety Requirements:
    Robust interlocks, warning indicators, and other fail-safe mechanisms are now mandatory for irradiation rooms.
  3. Why Matsusada Precision Products Are Not Affected
    The regulation clearly distinguishes between:
    Irradiation rooms (walk-in type, where a person can enter) Cabinet-type X-ray systems (sealed enclosures that physically prevent access) Matsusada Precision's X-ray inspection systems and Micro-CT scanners are classified as "cabinet-type" systems. They are fully shielded and engineered to prevent physical access to the irradiation area during operation. Therefore, the new requirements for walk-in facilities do not apply to our products.

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