Re: Health Physics Society => Radiation Safety Society

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

     RADSAFERs,
     
     For similar reasons to those given by Peter, I would probably be in 
     favor of such a change. This year's annual HPS meeting has already 
     been changed to the "American Radiation Safety Conference and 
     Exposition," which to me means that the change is already somewhat in 
     the works.
     
     On a somewhat related note, there is a very similar thread right now 
     on an IH listserve that I'm on. However, the Board of Directors of the 
     American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have decided that they 
     are going to become the "one-stop" shop for all occupational and 
     environmental safety issues, *including radiation*. Last year, they 
     proposed changing the name of the AIHA to the Occupational and 
     Environmental Health Society (or something very similar). This 
     proposal was voted down by the membership. The AIHA Board then 
     decided, without a vote of the membership, to change the name of their 
     annual meeting to the Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety 
     Week. There is currently a very big uproar among the AIHA membership 
     regarding this issue.
     
     The AIHA's (or whatever they intend to call themselves) stated intent 
     is to become the primary EH&S professional organization, including 
     radiation issues. IMO, we need to follow this closely. They have 
     stated that they intend to offer CEUs for all disciplines, offer 
     courses for all disciplines, etc. I don't know if the HPS and/or AAHP, 
     (or the ASSE for that matter) are aware of this "power grab," but it 
     bears watching. Maybe there will be some leasons learned here for the 
     HPS and name change issues.
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP, CSP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steve.rima@doegjpo.com
     
     


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Health Physics Society => Radiation Safety Society
Author:  "Vernig; Peter G." <Peter.Vernig@med.va.gov> at Internet
Date:    4/27/00 10:41 AM


Group,
     
HPS President, Ray Johnson proposed changing the name of HPS to Radiation 
Safety Society.  This would seem a suitable topic for some discussion.
     
Some thoughts; Not all of us are physicists by degree or training.  I happen 
to be a chemist by degree.
     
My official government job title is Health Physicist.  I put Radiation 
Safety Officer on my business card and all correspondence.  When asked what 
I do, I almost always respond that I am either a radiation safety specialist 
or more often the radiation safety officer at the VA.  On the occasions 
where I say health physicist, it is usually because it is an official 
situation or, I am ashamed to admit, I want to impress someone.
     
Frequently when I have told someone I am a health physicist or put it on a 
form, I have to spend 5 minutes explaining what I do.  If I say radiation 
safety, the frequency and length of explanation is much less.
     
I guess the tone of my message is more in favor of the change, but at least 
I think the proposal deserves serious consideration.  What do members of 
this group think?
     
     
Any opinions expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those 
of the Denver VA Medical Center, The Department of Veterans Affairs, or the 
U.S. Government.
     
Peter G. Vernig                
Radiation Safety Officer, VA Medical Center, 1055 Clermont St. Denver, CO 
80220, ATTN; RSO MS 115
303-399-8020 ext. 2447, peter.vernig@med.va.gov [alternate 
vernig.peter@forum.va.gov] Fax 303-393-5026 [8 - 4:30 MT service] Alternate 
Fax 303-377-5686
     
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,, whatever is 
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is found to be 
excellent or praiseworthy, let your mind dwell on these things."    Paul
     
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