All non-federal facilities using x-ray machines for any purpose must:
- Have their machine initially and periodically inspected by a registered qualified inspector. Inspection frequency varies from 1 to 3 years and is specified in Table 2-1 of Part 2, Section 2.5.1.3 of the regulations depending on the machine type/use.
- Initially and annually register with the x-ray certification unit at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Renew, register or update your x-ray facility information
- Opening a new office or location that uses x-ray machines. (We charge a $50 fee at the time of your new registration.)
- Renewing or updating your annual x-ray facility registration. (We send out a $50 facility registration fee February of each year.)
- Please note: At the time of a new facility registration, you are billed a $50 registration fee. Annual billing occurs near the end of each February. All active facilities receive a bill at this time. Due to the annual billing in February, a new facility may be billed again at the time of the annual invoicing.
- Installing a new x-ray machine or adding a new x-ray imaging suite or location.
- There are other changes to your registration information such as a change in address, change in ownership, or change in the radiation safety officer. Notifications of registration information must be made within 30 days.
Remove an x-ray machine from service or close an x-ray facility
- In storage, machine can be energized if connected to power source. The account will remain active, registration and annual fee still applicable. Certification Evaluations (R59-1) do not need to be performed while unit is in storage.
- Disabled in storage. The machine has been made physically inoperable.
- Transferred, sold, or traded in.
- Disposed of or recycled.
- Facility is closing.
Find a registered service company, qualified expert or inspector to provide services to your X-ray facility
Colorado registered qualified inspectors
- All registered qualified inspectors for verification.
- Qualified inspectors, all categories.
- Qualified inspectors for dental machines.
- Qualified inspectors for industrial machines.
- Qualified inspectors for veterinary machines.
- List of approved registered medical physicist.
- List of approved registered medical physicist in mammography.
Facilities intending to perform healing arts screening
- Means the exposure of any human being using an x-ray imaging system for healthcare purposes when such a test is not specifically ordered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. The formal definition is found in Part 6 of the regulations.
- May include using x-ray systems or imaging for body fat analysis, computed tomography cardiac, lung or colon screening, screening using fluoroscopy, or certain research.
- Requirements:
- Healing arts application instructions.
- Entities coming from out of state to perform healing arts screening on a temporary basis should contact us as additional requirements may apply.
Radiation monitoring
Facilities using x-ray machines must monitor occupational exposure to radiation from
radiation sources under the control of the facility. Facilities must supply and require the use
of individual monitoring badges for anyone likely to exceed the monitoring thresholds in Part
4, Section 4.18.1.
The department has evaluated the following scenarios and determined them to have a
likelihood of exceeding the limits for requiring occupational monitoring. As a result,
employees engaging in these activities would require dosimetry.
- Personnel who receive, or are likely to receive, a whole body dose in excess of 25 milliroentgens (mR) per week.
- Individuals who operate mobile x-ray equipment.
- Individuals consistently holding patients, animals, or objects for radiographic imaging
- Individuals who operate fluoroscopic units, therapeutic x-ray units, or traditional CT scanners.
- Individuals who service operable x-ray producing machines.
- Individuals performing industrial radiography.
X-ray registrants may stop using dosimetry badges by demonstrating through a written
evaluation that employees will not exceed the applicable monitoring thresholds in 4.18.1.
As part of the written evaluation, the facility can demonstrate that worker exposure is not likely to exceed 10 percent of the occupational dose limits by providing either:
- Personnel dosimetry badge reports from the most recent monitoring evaluation period.
- A written review from a qualified expert or radiation survey performed by a qualified inspector. The review or survey must take into account the facility design configuration, routine workload, radiation-producing machine output, and applicable survey data or measurements.
The facility must review its Radiation Protection Program each year to ensure no
changes occurred that would increase the radiation exposure levels to workers. If the
radiation exposure conditions change at any time, the need to provide individual monitoring
shall be re-evaluated. Changes that could affect radiation-monitoring conditions include:
- Facility remodeling.
- Relocating a machine.
- Changing the orientation of the machine.
- Adding x-ray machines.
- Increased workload.
- Similar activities.
For additional information regarding the written evaluation process and radiation monitoring please review the guidance document: Interpretive Guidance - Dosimetry Monitoring - 12-15-2023
Reciprocity request
- You are required to notify the Department of Public Health and Environment fifteen (15) days ahead of bringing a radiation-producing machine into Colorado. This completed form will serve as your required notice.
Contact
Customer technical assistance for questions concerning x-ray and mammography
Phone: 303-692-3448
cdphe.hmxraycomments@state.co.us