Re[2]: intentional misuse - bending rules

[steve.rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     It's pretty easy to pinpoint the DIRECT cause of these incidents, it's 
     people intentionally violating rules and doing something that they 
     know is wrong. It's also real easy to address the direct cause, and 
     that's where most people and regulatory agencies go, because it's the 
     quick and easy fix. Fixing the direct cause in this case would involve 
     massive security that, for many reasons, is not feasible at these 
     institutions. However, backing up a step and finding out the ROOT 
     cause for these incidents (WHY are people doing this?) is not nearly 
     as easy, but that's what needs to be done. If you identify the real 
     root cause and apply the corrective actions there, you're way ahead in 
     the long term. Most likely, addressing the root cause of these 
     incidents would go down a very different path than instituting massive 
     security requirements.
     
     As Bill Lipton pointed out, if we as a profession don't find out the 
     root cause and address it, the regulators will probably eventually 
     take the easy way out and address the direct cause by mandating the 
     security requirements that nobody wants.
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP, CSP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steven.rima@doegjpo.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: RE: intentional misuse - bending rules
Author:  "Karam; Andrew" <Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu> at Internet
Date:    2/29/00 11:50 AM


Please understand - I am NOT advocating bending rules, ignoring problems, or 
letting people get away with things.  In fact, in my initial posting I 
specifically said that regulatory compliance is a high priority with us.  We 
have rules, we educate the researchers about them, and we enforce them.  We 
penalize researchers who transgress.  We do not have the luxury (or curse, 
depending on your outlook) of heavy-duty security restrictions and 
surveillance to watch every person all the time.  
     
     <snip>
Sincerely,
     
Andy
     
Andrew Karam, CHP              (716) 275-1473 (voice) 
Radiation Safety Officer          (716) 275-3781 (office) 
University of Rochester           (716) 256-0365 (fax) 
601 Elmwood Ave. Box HPH   Rochester, NY  14642
     
Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu
http://Intranet.urmc.rochester.edu/RadiationSafety 
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