- To introduce an industrial X-ray inspection system in Japan, you must first file a notification.
The authority to which the notification must be submitted varies depending on whether the entity is a public organization or a private company.
If you are a central ministry, you must notify the National Personnel Authority within 30 days of installation.
If you are a public institution, you need to notify the personnel committee of each prefecture at least 30 days before the scheduled installation.
If you are a private company, you need to notify the Labor Standards Inspection Office of your jurisdiction at least 30 days before the planned installation.
Documents required for notification are
(1) "Notification of installation / relocation / change of machinery" (Form No. 20)
(2) "Radiation Equipment Summary" (Form No. 27)
(3) "Drawing of the Controlled Area" (A diagram indicating the boundaries of the controlled area)
- Do I need an X-ray work chief license to use X-ray equipment in Japan?
Whether a licensed supervisor is required depends on factors such as the leakage dose rate of the X-ray equipment and its duration of use.
The dose limit is 0.1 mSv / week (100 μSv / week) if three months is 13 weeks, and 20 μSv / day if one week is five days.
Assuming a maximum daily operation of 10 hours, a leakage dose rate of 2 μSv/h or less ensures that the radiation level remains below the threshold for a controlled area. Consequently, the area outside the device is not classified as a radiation controlled area, which is a key factor in determining the need for a licensed supervisor.
- Do I need special education to use X-ray equipment in Japan?
Key Regulatory Change in Japan
The Industrial Safety and Health Regulations and the Ionizing Radiation Hazard Prevention Regulations (IRHPR) were partially amended on October 29, 2020, in Japan, introducing an important exemption.
No, you generally do not need special education if you are using X-ray equipment that is a fully shielded, "box-type" device.
A crucial exemption was added to the types of work that require special education for workers:
"excluding operations involving the use of equipment with a shielded structure designed to prevent a worker's entire or partial body from entering its interior during X-ray or gamma ray irradiation."
This amendment specifically addresses so-called "box-type X-ray equipment" and similar shielded devices.
Reference: Measures for Preventing Ionizing Radiation Hazards | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (Japanese page)
Revised IRHPR (Promulgated on October 29, 2020, and Effective from April 1, 2021)
Article 52-5 The employer shall provide special education on the following subjects to workers engaged in operations involving the handling of X-ray equipment or gamma-ray irradiators (excluding operations involving the use of equipment with a shielded structure designed so that only the controlled area exists inside the equipment and to prevent a worker's entire or partial body from entering its interior during X-ray or gamma ray irradiation; the same shall apply hereinafter in this Article):
1. Knowledge of work procedures related to the handling of X-ray equipment or gamma-ray irradiators.
2. Knowledge of the structure and methods of handling X-ray equipment or gamma-ray irradiators.
3. The effects of ionizing radiation on the living body.
4. Related laws and regulations.
Article 52-5 The employer shall provide special education on the following subjects to workers engaged in radiographic photography using X-ray equipment or gamma-ray irradiators:
1. Procedures for radiographic photography.
2. Knowledge of the structure and methods of handling X-ray equipment or gamma-ray irradiators.
3. The effects of ionizing radiation on the living body.
4. Related laws and regulations.
Of course, it is necessary for X-ray transmission photography work using film, but in the case of digitized X-ray transmission inspection equipment, it depends on the interpretation of the business operator whether it is applicable or not.
- The rules depend on the country or region.
So, please contact our sales offices for details.
For industrial X-ray inspection systems with a leakage dose rate of 1 μSv/h or less, the regulatory requirements for installation are generally less stringent in many countries and regions, including the United States, Mexico, various Asian countries, and Europe.
Matsusada Precision's industrial X-ray inspection systems are designed to ensure a leakage dose rate of 1 μSv/h or less.
Related Technical Articles
- FAQ: Does the revised "Ordinance on Prevention of Ionizing Radiation Hazards" in Japan affect X-ray products?
- The Right Way to Choose appropriate X-ray Inspection System
- Principles of Radiography
- How to use X-ray Inspection System safely
- Explaining the effects of radiation on the human body and the safety of X-ray equipment
- What is the difference between radioactivity, radiation, and radioactive materials?