An evaluation and comparison of compliance inspection outcomes data for radiation protection programs in Maine and Texas

The coding system used by the State of Texas Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control to categorize regulatory violations resulting from compliance inspections was applied to the results of similar activities performed by the State of Maine Radiation Control Program for licensees of radioactive materials in calendar year 1999. The coded results from the Maine inspections (n = 37) were then summarized and compared to the data from Texas inspection activities for similar radiation licenses (n = 1,350). Despite significant differences in program size, age, and geographic proximity, the list of most commonly issued violations was almost identical. Other program outcome analogies were also noted, such as similar violation frequency distributions and similar identified root causes of non-compliance. These comparisons mark the first step towards the possible creation of a generalizable list of common items of non-compliance, which could serve to greatly enhance radiation safety preventive education and training programs. The utility of the Texas coding system as the basis for interstate program comparisons is also demonstrated, since the system is based upon categories of non-compliance rather than locally-unique regulatory codes or citations.