RE: xray scanning machines

[Jack_Earley@RL.GOV]

Can't say I agree with this. Area monitoring TLDs will tell you if you're

approaching 100 mrem/y. If you're not, why go to the expense of monitoring

everyone, and risk violations when someone messes up? Monitor the people you

need to monitor, but don't shoot yourself in the foot. (Although if you

insist on it, you can get some nice little stick-on targets at your sporting

goods store.)



My thoughts only.



Jack Earley

Radiological Engineer



-----Original Message-----

From: Robert J. Gunter [mailto:rjgunter@chpconsultants.com]

Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 5:37 AM

To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Cc: april.williams@faa.gov

Subject: RE: xray scanning machines





Greetings All,



I would have to disagree with the gist of the comments below.  Obviously

the badge does not offer "protection" from radiation.  They are not

likely to report the "exact" dose a person may receive as radiation

fields are frequently non-uniform (i.e. scattered X-rays) and the badges

are of limited size.  Dosimeters indicate whether a person received a

dose, and the relative magnitude.  Of course you have to make sure that

people are wearing their own dosimeters.  This is one of the few cases

in which it is not nice to share...  



Area monitors measure radiation fields in a particular location, often a

spot on the wall.  Imaging a scattered beam of radiation that hits the

entire room and misses the area monitor, or let's say the monitor (kept

onsite 3 months 24/7) indicates a radiation field. Who got what dose?

Was the dose to a person actually higher? Who got that? 



Just because you work with radioactive materials, or even X-rays doesn't

mean a dosimeter is required.  I am not suggesting we badge the world

(sorry Sandy ; )), but if you want to _know_ if your people are getting

any (or no/insignificant) dose, a personal dosimeter is the only

economic way.



Yours,



Rob

 

Robert J. Gunter, CHP

CHP Consultants

www.chpconsultants.com

rjgunter@chpconsultants.com

(865) 387-0028 ph

(865) 483-7189 fax

Oak Ridge, TN





-----Original Response-----

--snip





... do not expect the "monitoring badges" to offer you any protection

from real or perceived "health hazards". Radiation monitoring devices

only register radiation doses they received (not necessarily the person

to whom the dosimeter is assigned). In many situations, area monitors

are more appropriate.



-----Original Message-----



------snip------

Does anyone know if xray scanning machines for packages pose the same

health hazards as xray machines for medical purposes?  Should people

running the machines wear monitoring badges?  Thanks!

-----------



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