[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: OSHA & Radiation (was: Badges for surgery)



Lesson to learn? How about: learn CPR.



--- "Bradt, Clayton" <Clayton.Bradt@Labor.State.Ny.Us>

wrote:

> John Jacobus wrote:

> 

> "And when was the last (or first) time OSHA

> inspected a

> hospital?  We had an overexposure at our cyclotron

> facility, and OSHA did not respond even when we

> contacted them.  We are a federal agency, and do not

> come under state regulations.  I assume a state

> agency

> would have been interested."  

> 

> We had a near electrocution at a cyclotron facility

> not too long ago.  OSHA

> investigated that incident, but radiation exposure

> wasn't an issue.  OSHA

> has very few people with any radiation background. 

> This of course does not

> prevent them from claiming that they regulate in the

> area of radiation

> hazards from x-ray and non-AEA materials.  They want

> the turf but won't

> invest in the personnel to do the job. 

> 

> With regard to the electrocution incident: We have

> had a running battle with

> local code enforcement people in some municipalities

> who insist on requiring

> posting on the outside of all buildings where

> radioactive materials are

> stored/used - regardless of the form or quantities. 

> (For the protection of

> first responders, they claim.)  The cyclotron

> facility was located in one

> such municipality, and had a radiation sign on the

> outside of the building.

> When the EMTs arrived, they at first refused to

> enter because of the sign.

> Meanwhile the victim was unconscious on the floor

> and the pharmacist was

> yelling and cursing at the EMTs to get them to come

> in to treat him.  They

> finally overcame their radiophobia and the

> individual was transported to

> hospital.  The victim recovered but had some severe

> burns.  Here again we

> have an agency (code enforcement this time) guarding

> turf in an area in

> which they have no expertise.  This time with near

> fatal consequences.

> 

> I'm sure there is a lesson here for all of

> us......but I at the moment I

> just can't think of what it is.

> 

> Clayton J. Bradt, CHP

> Principal Radiophysicist

> NYS Dept. of Labor

> Radiological Health Unit

> voice: (518) 457-1202

> fax:    (518) 485-7406

> e-mail: Clayton.Bradt@labor.state.ny.us

> 





=====

+++++++++++++++++++

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

Thomas Jefferson



-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com



__________________________________

Do you Yahoo!?

Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes

http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To

unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the

text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,

with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/