The following standards are established in accordance with
sections 402(f)(1)(D) and
413(b) of the Act. They were developed in consultation with the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These
standards are promulgated for the guidance of physicians and medical
technicians to insure that uniform procedures are used in
administering and interpreting X-rays and that the best available
medical evidence will be submitted in connection with a claim for
black lung benefits. If it is established that one or more standards
have not been met, the claims adjudicator may consider such fact in
determining the evidentiary weight to be assigned to the physician's
report of an X-ray.
(1) Every chest roentgenogram shall be a single postero-anterior
projection at full inspiration on a 14 by 17 inch film. Additional
chest films or views shall be obtained if they are necessary for
clarification and classification. 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 a projection with minimum loss of costophrenic angle shall be
made.
(2) 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.
(3) 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).
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (5), roentgenograms shall be
made with units having generators which comply with the following:
(a) 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; (b) 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.
(5) 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 200 mA at 110 kVp at 60 Hz.
(6) Capacitor discharge, and field emission units may be used.
(7) Roentgenograms shall be given only with equipment having a
beam-limiting device which does not cause large unexposed
boundaries. The use of such a device shall be discernible from an
examination of the roentgenogram.
(8) To insure high quality chest roentgenograms:
(i) 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 chest over 28 cm postero-
anterior, the exposure may be increased to not more than \1/10\ of a
second;
(ii) The source or focal spot to film distance shall be at least
6 feet;
(iii) Only medium-speed film and medium-speed intensifying
screens shall be used;
(iv) Film-screen contact shall be maintained and verified at 6-
month or shorter intervals;
(v) Intensifying screens shall be inspected at least once a
month and cleaned when necessary by the method recommended by the
manufacturer;
(vi) All intensifying screens in a cassette shall be of the same
type and made by the same manufacturer;
(vii) When using over 90 kV, a suitable grid or other means of
reducing scattered radiation shall be used;
(viii) 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) Radiographic processing:
(i) Either automatic or manual film processing is acceptable. A
constant time-temperature technique shall be meticulously employed
for manual processing.
(ii) 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.
(10) 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 made
immediately.
(11) An electric power supply shall be used which complies with
the voltage, current, and regulation specified by the manufacturer
of the machine.
(12) A densitometric test object may be required on each
roentgenogram for an objective evaluation of film quality at the
discretion of the Department of Labor.
(13) Each roentgenogram made under this Appendix shall be
permanently and legibly marked with the name and address of the
facility at which it is made, the miner's DOL claim number, the date
of the roentgenogram, and left and right side of film. No other
identifying markings shall be recorded on the roentgenogram.
