[ RadSafe ] Unacceptable Reason For A Dose

Wed Jun 22 08:21:30 CDT 2011

Mike, others:

Of course I agree.  However.  There are two specific points.  One is wearing a respirator with temple bar glasses.  The other point is brief removal of the respirator while in a contaminated area to eat or drink.  

I maintain the first idea is horrible. Wearing the temple bar glasses degrades the ability of the respirator to the point that you might as well not bother wearing a respirator. Indeed, it might be better overall if that person wasn't in a mask (he would be more efficient and observant).  

The second point (eating etc.), while disconcerting to us with an RP background, MIGHT have been the best option available. 

Consider, the region was wiped out from the tsunami.  How many people do you have on site to respond to the emergency?  How do you call in support personnel, and how do they get there?  What about the distractions the people that are on site face from not knowing the status of their family?  

As someone who is part of an Emergency Response Plan as a "Health Physics Coordinator", I state that could support shipping sandwiches and drinks to Control Room wearing respirators.  You HAVE to keep the human beings functional.  I wouldn't LIKE it.  But I think I could support it, telling people to quickly pull the mask, eat, and put it back on.

What bothers me more is the background conditions.  We sitting on the outside looking in can only theorize the pressures and challenges faced by the operating crew on the site that day.   

I suspect that as the story unfolds, we will see evidence of colossal stupidity and shortsightedness.  We shall also see evidence of incredible acts of heroism and courage, bordering on that seen in war.   

FWIW.  Dewey

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike (DOH)
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 7:04 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Unacceptable Reason For A Dose

I don't disagree.  In any case, both the lack of good fit on the respirators and eating in a contaminated space are unacceptable. 

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Thompson, Dewey L
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 7:04 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Unacceptable Reason For A Dose

Well, Mikey;

I had not considered the intake potential of the actual food being contaminated, you may have a point there.  

But on the respirator issues, you are flat wrong.  Here is some data for you:

Wearing a Scott negative pressure filter respirator on a TSI Port-A-Count, the fit factors were:

Without Temple Bar glasses, good seal to face.
Normal Breathing - 8000
Deep Breathing   - 2400

Using Temple Bar safety glasses, frame thickness approximately 1/16 inch (1.6 mm)

Normal Breathing - 1.8-2.0
Deep Breathing   - 1.0-1.1

You can do a napkin calculation if you care and estimate the relative intake of radioactivity for a couple of minutes chomping down a sandwich vs wearing a mask for several hours.

Most respectfully
Dewey

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 
DEWEY THOMPSON 
Staff HP
Radiation Protection Department
T 314.225.1061
F 573.676.4484
E DThompson3 at ameren.com

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike (DOH)
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 11:48 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Unacceptable Reason For A Dose

While I agree that anyone who might need to work in a respirator should
be fit for one (including either the right kind of glasses or corrective
surgery), I think the bigger problem was them eating at their station.
Taking your mask all the way off and eating food that was exposed to the
contamination in the room seems like a bigger source than air that
sneaks past the earpieces of glasses.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff Terry
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 7:13 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Unacceptable Reason For A Dose

I am sorry but this is inexcusable. You have to fit respirators, before
allowing someone into an airborne contamination area. 

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/18/3710803/nuclear-plant-workers-safety-ma
sk.html

Jeff

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The information contained in this message may be privileged and/or confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Note that any views or opinions presented in this message are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ameren. All e-mails are subject to monitoring and archival. Finally, the recipient should check this message and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Ameren accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender immediately by replying to the message and deleting the material from any computer. Ameren Corporation