[ RadSafe ] Adopting the International System of Units for Radiation Measurements in the US

[Jason Meade]

I agree the costs will be enormous, but the longer it is put off, the more
expensive it will be.

I am not advocating some sweeping changes, or an overnight switch (or even
a changeover implemented in a few years time-frame).  Just looking around
now, and we have large portions of the medical imaging and rad onc already
happening in international units but with regs still all written in
standard units, researchers doing all their RAM work in standard units and
publishing primarily in SI units, and I've have heard first hand accounts
of significant problems in international cooperation in the field (and some
during events where seconds could seriously matter).

I'm not a big fan of thinking there is no good reason to switch and are
opposed without even being open to discussion of or even willing to accept
any potential merit, is I guess what I'm trying to say.

Don't get me wrong, I cut my teeth in the nuclear Navy, and didn't know
what one of these crazy "Gray" or "Becquerel" things were until after I got
out, and my brain still automatically THINKS in standard units and probably
always will have to convert.  Switching everything to SI is not something I
look forward to (and in fact dread, considering the massive amount of  up
front tedious work that will need to be done), but it is something that is
inevitable and probably beneficial in the long run, in my opinion.

On Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 2:24 PM, Sander Perle <sandyfl at cox.net> wrote:

> Yes there is. However, the cost of implementation, instrument displays for
> instrumentation in the field, SOP revisions including other documents,
> staff training (most have no knowledge of the units), etc. are
> considerations that have to be considered. Then there is always making
> decisions using incorrect interpretation of the units (this had already an
> observed issue).
>
> In the end, it's a risk/benefit decision that has to take into the account
> of implementation cost. When 10CFR20 was implemented 1993 there was a
> significant cost just in the NPP environment (I was at FPL then). This
> holds true today.
>
> Maybe when the current workers have all retired and the younger staffs are
> brought up using SI units, transition will be easier, but the cost does not
> go away.
>
> At least in ANSI HPS Standards and other publications we include both
> units.
>
> Regards,
>
> Sandy
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Sep 21, 2016, at 11:15, Jason Meade <meadeja at vcu.edu> wrote:
> >
> > Having spoken with one person from the US directly involved in helping
> out
> > with Fukushima response cleanup and a lot of the difficulties presented
> > coordination-wise, I'd say there's at least an argument to be made for
> some
> > practical advantages to the international standard.
> >
> >> On Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 1:26 PM, The Wilsons <pnwnatives at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> It is not international, first of all, and there is really no advantage
> to
> >> the change. Lets not fix what isn't broken!
> >> Bob Wilson
> >>
> >>
> >>> On 9/20/2016 11:10 AM, clayton bradt wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Let's change the definition of the curie to 10^9 Bq. That way a curie
> is
> >>> still a convenient unit for every day work and the conversion between
> >>> curies and bequerels is simple. 1Ci = 1 GBq.
> >>>
> >>> Clayton
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Jason A Meade, AS, BS, MHSA, RRPT, RT(T)
> > Senior Radiation Safety Specialist
> > Virginia Commonwealth University
> >
> >
> > Sanger Hall, B2-016
> > 1101 East Marshall St
> > PO Box 980112
> > Richmond, VA 23298-0112
> >
> > meadeja at vcu.edu
> > 804-828-0594 office
> > 330-347-0271 cell
> >
> > A society grows great
> > when old men plant trees
> > whose shade they know
> > they shall never sit in.
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-- 
Thanks,
Jason A Meade, AS, BS, MHSA, RRPT, RT(T)
Senior Radiation Safety Specialist
Virginia Commonwealth University


Sanger Hall, B2-016
1101 East Marshall St
PO Box 980112
Richmond, VA 23298-0112

meadeja at vcu.edu
804-828-0594 office
330-347-0271 cell

A society grows great
when old men plant trees
whose shade they know
they shall never sit in.