(a) Qualifications of the designated radiation safety officer (RSO) are adequate for the purpose requested and include as a minimum:
  (1) have earned at least a bachelor's degree in a physical or biological science, industrial hygiene, health physics, radiation protection, or engineering from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of training and relevant experience, with two years of relevant experience equivalent to a year of academic study, from a uranium or mineral extraction/recovery, radioactive waste processing, or a radioactive waste or by-product material disposal facility;
  (2) have at least one year of relevant experience, in addition to that used to meet the educational requirement, working under the direct supervision of the RSO at a uranium or mineral extraction/recovery, radioactive waste processing, or radioactive waste or by-product material disposal facility; and
  (3) have at least four weeks of specialized training in health physics or radiation safety applicable to uranium or mineral extraction/recovery, radioactive waste processing, or radioactive waste or by-product material disposal operations from a course provider that has been evaluated and approved by the agency.
(b) The specific duties of the RSO include, but are not limited to, the following:
  (1) to establish and oversee operating, safety, emergency, and as low as reasonably achievable procedures, and to review them at least annually to ensure that the procedures are current and conform with this chapter;
  (2) to oversee and approve all phases of the training program for operations and/or personnel so that appropriate and effective radiation protection practices are taught;
  (3) to ensure that required radiation surveys and leak tests are performed and documented in accordance with this chapter, including any corrective measures when levels of radiation exceed established limits;
  (4) to ensure that individual monitoring devices are used properly by occupationally-exposed personnel, that records are kept of the monitoring results, and that timely notifications are made in accordance with §336.405 of this title (relating to Notifications and Reports to Individuals);
  (5) to investigate and cause a report to be submitted to the agency for each known or suspected case of radiation exposure to an individual or radiation level detected in excess of limits established by this chapter and each theft or loss of source(s) of radiation, to determine the cause(s), and to take steps to prevent a recurrence;
  (6) to investigate and cause a report to be submitted to the executive director for each known or suspected case of release of radioactive material to the environment in excess of limits established by this chapter;
  (7) to have a thorough knowledge of management policies and administrative procedures of the licensee;
  (8) to assume control and have the authority to institute corrective actions, including shutdown of operations when necessary in emergency situations or unsafe conditions;
  (9) to ensure that records are maintained as required by this chapter;
  (10) to ensure the proper storing, labeling, transport, use and disposal of sources of radiation, storage, and/or transport containers;
  (11) to ensure that inventories are performed in accordance with the activities for which the license application is submitted;
  (12) to perform an inventory of the radioactive sealed sources authorized for use on the license every six months and make and maintain records of the inventory of the radioactive sealed sources authorized for use on the license every six months, to include, but not be limited to, the following:
    (A) isotope(s);
    (B) quantity(ies);
    (C) radioactivity(ies); and
    (D) date inventory is performed.
  (13) to ensure that personnel are complying with this chapter, the conditions of the license, and the operating, safety, and emergency procedures of the licensee; and
  (14) to serve as the primary contact with the agency.

Source Note: The provisions of this §336.208 adopted to be effective effective March 12, 2009, 34 TexReg 1688