[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 1]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 42CFR37.41]



[Page 126-127]

 

                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH

 

    CHAPTER I--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 

                                SERVICES

 

PART 37_SPECIFICATIONS FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OF UNDERGROUND COAL 

MINERS--Table of Contents

 

               Subpart_Chest Roentgenographic Examinations

 

Sec.  37.41  Chest roentgenogram specifications.



    (a) Every chest roentgenogram shall be a single posteroanterior 

projection at full inspiration on a film being no less than 14 by 17 

inches and no greater than 16 by 17 inches. The film and cassette shall 

be capable of being positioned both vertically and horizontally so that 

the chest roentgenogram will include both apices and costophrenic 

angles. If a miner is too large to permit the above requirements, then 

the projection shall include both apices with minimum loss of the 

costophrenic angle.

    (b) Miners shall be disrobed from the waist up at the time the 

roentgenogram is given. The facility shall provide a dressing area and 

for those miners who wish to use one, the facility shall provide a clean 

gown. Facilities shall be heated to a comfortable temperature.

    (c) Roentgenograms shall be made only with a diagnostic X-ray 

machine having a rotating anode tube with a maximum of a 2 mm. source 

(focal spot).

    (d) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, 

roentgenograms shall be made with units having generators which comply 

with the following: (1) The generators of existing roentgenographic 

units acquired by the examining facility prior to July 27, 1973, shall 

have a minimum rating of 200 mA at 100 kVp.; (2) generators of units 

acquired subsequent to that date shall have a minimum rating of 300 mA 

at 125 kVp.



    Note: A generator with a rating of 150 kVp. is recommended.



    (e) Roentgenograms made with battery-powered mobile or portable 

equipment shall be made with units having a minimum rating of 100 mA at 

110 kVp. at 500 Hz, or of 200 mA at 110 kVp. at 60 Hz.

    (f) Capacitor discharge and field emission units may be used if the 

model of such units is approved by ALOSH for quality, performance, and 

safety. ALOSH will consider such units for approval when listed by a 

facility seeking approval under Sec.  37.42 of this subpart.

    (g) Roentgenograms shall be given only with equipment having a beam-

limiting device which does not cause large unexposed boundaries. The 

beam limiting device shall provide rectangular collimation and shall be 

of the type described in part F of the suggested State regulations for 

the control of radiation or (for beam limiting devices manufactured 

after August 1, 1974) of the type specified in 21 CFR 1020.31. The use 

of such a device shall be discernible from an examination of the 

roentgenogram.

    (h) To insure high quality chest roentgenograms:

    (1) The maximum exposure time shall not exceed \1/20\ of a second 

except that with single phase units with a rating less than 300 mA at 

125 kVp. and subjects with chests over 28 cm. posteroanterior, the 

exposure may be increased to not more than \1/10\ of a second;

    (2) The source or focal spot to film distance shall be at least 6 

feet;

    (3) Medium speed film and medium speed intensifying screens are 

recommended. However, any film-screen combination, the rated ``speed'' 

of which is at least 100 and does not exceed 300, which produces 

roentgenograms with spatial resolution, contrast, latitude and quantum 

mottle



[[Page 127]]



similar to those of systems designated as ``medium speed'' may be 

employed;

    (4) Film-screen contact shall be maintained and verified at 6 month 

or shorter intervals;

    (5) Intensifying screens shall be inspected at least once a month 

and cleaned when necessary by the method recommended by the 

manufacturer;

    (6) All intensifying screens in a cassette shall be of the same type 

and made by the same manufacturer;

    (7) When using over 90 kV., a suitable grid or other means of 

reducing scattered radiation shall be used;

    (8) The geometry of the radiographic system shall insure that the 

central axis (ray) of the primary beam is perpendicular to the plane of 

the film surface and impinges on the center of the film;

    (9) A formal quality assurance program shall be established at each 

facility.

    (i) Radiographic processing:

    (1) Either automatic or manual film processing is acceptable. A 

constant time-temperature technique shall be meticulously employed for 

manual processing.

    (2) If mineral or other impurities in the processing water introduce 

difficulty in obtaining a high-quality roentgenogram, a suitable filter 

or purification system shall be used.

    (j) Before the miner is advised that the examination is concluded, 

the roentgenogram shall be processed and inspected and accepted for 

quality by the physician, or if the physician is not available, 

acceptance may be made by the radiologic technologist. In a case of a 

substandard roentgenogram, another shall be immediately made. All 

substandard roentgenograms shall be clearly marked as rejected and 

promptly sent to ALOSH for disposal.

    (k) An electric power supply shall be used which complies with the 

voltage, current, and regulation specified by the manufacturer of the 

machine.

    (l) A densitometric test object may be required on each 

roentgenogram for an objective evaluation of film quality at the 

discretion of ALOSH.

    (m) Each roentgenogram made hereunder shall be permanently and 

legibly marked with the name and address or ALOSH approval number of the 

facility at which it is made, the social security number of the miner, 

and the date of the roentgenogram. No other identifying markings shall 

be recorded on the roentgenogram.



[43 FR 33715, Aug. 1, 1978, as amended at 52 FR 7866, Mar. 13, 1987]