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RE: Radiography HP



I enjoy this trend for one reason: We are discussing on potential solutions

to minimize doses to a group of "nuclear" worker who receive a steady amount

of doses per year but in a strange distribution:



>From Health Canada , Sont and Ashmore (National Registry Doses-2000,

Radiation Protection Bureau),  Industrial radiographers receive either below

2 mSv  or more then 5 mSv with some number of persons in the  20-50 mSv

region. Average dose, out of 2410 workers is 2.67 mSv (only 3 other

categories of workers have the same average, and they are in the fuel

handling, maintenance in reactor ...and industrial radiographers IN power

reactors)



This is another way of summarizing the excellent point William Lipton

brought:



1. This industry is a cutthroat industry and NO device alone can prevent an

individual to cut corners. The problem is that if they don't cut corners,

the contractor may loose some contracts, this is the reality of the

business. The concept of due diligence does not help either. If you fine the

individual, you should be able to fine the company because the put pressure

on the individual to perform. But this is not easy to prove...



2. People can make the difference, but perhaps they need "regulatory

incentives". You have (still accoding to Sont and Ashmore) 74% of the

radiographers below 2 mSv. But of course you are likely to ear in the

newspapers about the 26 % ....



3. A radiation survey meter to perform an industrial gammagraphy  SHOULD BE

AS NATURAL as using proper protective equipment (fall protection,

respiratory etc.) but for some individual, it is NOT. Is it culture, is it

training? Who on this list, be walking with a 100 Ci source, stick it in and

out of shielding  without a properly working survey meter ?  Well I see some

industrial radiographers do exactly that. Not the majority, but again the

one you may read about in newspapers...This is why I have a program on site

to audit our X-ray contractors and I am making sure that I know when they

come in...



It is about time that we see such mention as "radiography HP"...



My opinion only, from an "ex-inspector" perspective...



Stephane Jean-Francois, Eng., CHP,

Specialiste en radioprotection-Radiation Safety Specialist

Gestion des risques-Risk Management

Merck Frosst Canada et Cie,

514.428.8695

Fax:514.428.8670

stephane_jeanfrancois@merck.com

http://www.merckfrosstlab.ca







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

From: Ted de Castro [mailto:tdc@XRAYTED.COM]

Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 1:56 PM

To: Perrero, Daren

Cc: 'William V Lipton'; RADSAFE@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: Re: Radiography HP





I see the problem is that it is currently all handled by administrative

controls (laws, training, procedures etc.) and therefore in the most

basic sense - voluntary.  All these administrative controls can be as

easily forgotten or ignored.



All the problems cannot be solved by hardware controls but I do not

think any hardware control has even been attempted.  There need to be

some minimum equipment standards with better built in control.



We keep hearing about accidents where the source disconnects from the

cable or is otherwise improperly stowed.  Surely this can be improved or

tested for.  Better connection and or a mechanical sense of the source

actually settling home.



I suspect a source powered "HOME" indicator could be made.



The unstowed source accidents are the big accidents and I truly think

that imaginative and motivated people can find hardware solutions to

those problems.



This leaves us with administrative controls for the "lesser offenses"

which seem to result in exposures that violate limits - but not the

individual - at least immediately.



"Perrero, Daren" wrote:

> 

> What do you perceive as the major problems?  What are your suggestions for

> correcting them?

> I am all ears.

> The thoughts expressed are mine, mine, all mine!

> I'm with the government, I'm here to help........

> Daren Perrero, Health Physicist

> perrero@idns.state.il.us

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM]

> Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 5:55 AM

> To: AndrewsJP@AOL.COM

> Cc: tdc@XRAYTED.COM; HustonThomasE@UAMS.EDU; RADSAFE@list.vanderbilt.edu

> Subject: Re: chirper

> 

> So let's stop looking for the Blue Light Special on chirpers, and talk

about

> how we can get the regulators and licensees to take radiography hp

> seriously.

> 

> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

> It's not about dose, it's about trust.

> Curies forever.

> 

> Bill Lipton

> liptonw@dteenergy.com

> 

> 

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