What Alaska's rules say about ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable), dose limits in millisieverts (mSv), dosimeters, aprons and training for the people who work in fluoroscopy labs.
Please double-check this information. This is an ORSIF research summary, researched November 3, 2026. It is not comprehensive and not always accurate: rules change, and answers may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. It is education, not legal advice. Not yet reviewed by a regulatory expert. The research for this state ended before every question was fully answered, so some answers may be incomplete. Confirm each requirement at the source linked beside the answer, with the state program and with your facility's radiation safety officer. How this was made
ORSIF's research identified the Radiological Health Program, State Public Health Laboratories (Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Section of Laboratories) as the agency that regulates X-ray and fluoroscopy equipment in Alaska. Alaska is not a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Agreement State, so the NRC regulates radioactive materials there directly. The state still regulates X-ray machines.
Alaska's fluoroscopy rules are in 7 AAC 18, which covers all radiation sources and has a chapter-wide ALARA requirement (18.105(c)). Alaska is not an NRC Agreement State, so an NRC rule requiring Agreement States to remove ALARA would not bind it directly. Worker dose limits are 5 rem (50 mSv) whole body and 15 rem (150 mSv) for the lens of the eye; no lower eye limit was found. Anyone in the fluoroscopy room likely to get 5 mR per hour or more must wear an apron and gloves of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent, and protective drapes and panels may not substitute for an apron. No rule on engineered shielding systems used instead of aprons was found. No operator license or permit appeared in the rules read; the facility must ensure operators are trained and competent, and each fluoroscopy operator needs at least 10 hours of instruction. The rule text was read only on secondary sources (Cornell LII, Justia), and the research for Alaska ended before every question was fully checked.
Every answer names the rule it comes from. Open "Rule text and source" to read the citation, the source page and, where it could be matched, the exact wording.
Which rules apply, and whether ALARA is among them.
No. Alaska is not an NRC Agreement State. This comes from the NRC list (updated 2026-10-29). The program page says it works with the NRC.
7 AAC 18, Radiation Sources and Radiation Protection. Article 2 covers applicability and registration. Article 3 holds the general protection standards. Article 4 covers healing arts uses, including 7 AAC 18.440 on fluoroscopic installations. Article 6 holds definitions. 7 AAC 19 covers dental X-ray only. The research read the rule text only on secondary sources (Cornell LII, Justia).
the provisions of 7 AAC 18.110 - 7 AAC 18.990 apply to a person in this state who receives, possesses, uses, transfers, owns, or acquires a radiation source.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Yes. 7 AAC 18.105(c) requires registrants and operators to apply the principles of ALARA, and 18.105(d) defines it. Operator training must also cover ALARA (18.420(b)(1)(B)).
Where ALARA lives in Alaska: In a shared rule and in X-ray-specific language. The main requirement, 7 AAC 18.105(c), is chapter-wide and applies to all radiation sources; the chapter uses 'registrant' for both X-ray and radioactive material. The X-ray operator training curriculum (18.420(b)(1)(B)) also requires teaching ALARA. Because Alaska is not an Agreement State, an NRC rule requiring Agreement States to drop ALARA would not legally reach this chapter. (7 AAC 18.105(c); 7 AAC 18.150; 7 AAC 18.420(b)(1)(B))
registrants and operators shall apply the principles of ALARA to ensure that registrants, operators, and the general public are exposed only to the lowest amount of ionizing radiation necessary to accomplish an intended purpose.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
The annual limits for workers, written in millisieverts (mSv). Ten mSv equal one rem.
5 rem (50 mSv) total effective dose equivalent per year, or 50 rem (500 mSv) to any single organ other than the lens, whichever is lower. Doses from multiple registrants are combined.
15 rem (150 mSv) per year. No lower lens limit has been adopted; a circa-2013 proposal to cut it to 5 rem appears not to have been adopted.
(A) lens dose equivalent of 15 rems (0.15 Sv); and (B) shallow-dose equivalent of 50 rem (0.5 Sv) to the skin of the whole body or to the skin of any extremity.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Shallow-dose equivalent of 50 rem (500 mSv) per year to the skin of the whole body or any extremity.
(A) lens dose equivalent of 15 rems (0.15 Sv); and (B) shallow-dose equivalent of 50 rem (0.5 Sv) to the skin of the whole body or to the skin of any extremity.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
not found
When a worker must wear a dosimeter, and where.
An individual dosimeter is required for anyone (other than a patient) in a controlled area who receives, or is likely to receive, more than 10% of an annual limit. The threshold is 5% for minors. Anyone entering a high or very high radiation area must also be monitored.
not found
The assigned deep dose equivalent must be for the part of the body receiving the highest exposure.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Protective apparel, how it is checked, and whether other systems are addressed.
Yes. Anyone other than the patient likely to be exposed to 5 mR per hour or more must wear an apron and gloves of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent in the fluoroscopy room. Drapes or panels of at least 0.25 mm lead equivalent are also required between patient and fluoroscopist. No thyroid shield or eyewear requirement was found.
Each person, other than the patient, whose body is likely to be exposed to five milliroentgens per hour or more must wear a protective apron and gloves of at least 0.25 millimeters lead equivalent material in the fluoroscopy room.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
not found
Engineered radiation protection systems are not addressed by name. Under 18.440(i), mounted drapes, hinged shields and sliding panels may not replace an apron. A waiver section (7 AAC 18.405) exists but was not read.
Protective drapes, hinges, or sliding panels, of at least 0.25 millimeters lead equivalent material, must be provided between the patient and fluoroscopist... These devices may not substitute for the wearing of a protective apron.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Who may use fluoroscopy equipment and what training the rules ask for.
No profession, license or permit was found in the rules read. The registrant must ensure equipment is operated only by an adequately instructed, competent individual. No supervision requirement was found. A 2022 vendor blog says Alaska has no X-ray operator training legislation; the statutes were not verified.
A registrant of medical or veterinary x-ray equipment shall assure that all x-ray equipment under the registrant's control is operated only by an individual who is adequately instructed in safe operating procedures and competent in safe use of the equipment.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
The registrant must keep a training record for each operator. The minimum curriculum covers radiation safety and ALARA, personnel monitoring, equipment operation and dose control, quality control, and facility procedures. Fluoroscopy operators need at least 10 hours of instruction. No physician pathway, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) requirement, state permit or continuing education requirement was found.
An operator of medical fluoroscopic equipment must receive a minimum of 10 hours of instruction in the safe operation of the fluoroscope.This quote was matched word for word to the source page.
Rules, bills and guidance the research found from 2025 and 2026, with the ones that touch fluoroscopy teams first.
Comments closed November 16, 2023; Cornell now lists Chapter 19, suggesting adoption
Following SB 173, the proposal adopts Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) Suggested State Regulations Part F (April 2015) by reference for dental equipment. It also changes the fee calculation for non-dental X-ray devices (7 AAC 80.030).
Appears not adopted; current text still shows 5 rem and 15 rem
A DHSS draft from circa 2013 would have lowered the whole-body limit to 2 rem and the lens limit to 5 rem.
Questions the research could not settle. If you know the answer, tell us.
ORSIF compiled this page from the sources linked on it and did its best. It is not comprehensive and it is not always accurate. Rules change, a rule may have been missed or misread, and the sources themselves can be out of date. Treat this page as a starting point.
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