Re: Badges for X-Ray Machine Users

[xug2@rpi.edu (Xie George Xu)]

On Mar 17,  2:18pm, "Sue M. Dupre" wrote:
> Subject: Badges for X-Ray Machine Users
> Randy, I presume that in your recent posting about the need for film badges
you
> were really referring to the actual risk-based, hazard-related need when you
> said "Some x-ray devices really do not need badged operators ....".  This
would
> be different than using "need" to mean "required by regulation".  In the
state
> of New Jersey (and presumably other states as well?) operators of x-ray
diffrac
> tion units are required by regulation to wear finger or wrist dosimeters and
> cabinet x-ray operators (even those totally enclosed redundantly interlocked
> units) must wear "appropriate personnel monitoring equipment".  We have a
cab-
> net x-ray unit on campus - and the state inspector expects to see all of its
> users wearing TLD or film badges.
>
> We could all argue about whether those badges are really needed but my
office
> must still provide those users with badges or be in violation of the law.
>
> Sue Dupre/Health Physicist/Princeton University
>-- End of excerpt from "Sue M. Dupre"


Sue,

I agree with you. But I would like to hear from someone in New York State
also. It would be interesting to do an inter-state comparision for this
particular issue ( and others).

It seems to be very difficult being a RSO and a researcher at the same time.
Not only because of the limited time, but also because, sometimes, what we are
"required to do" do not make scientific sense, or even against each other.

******************************************************************
George Xu, Ph.D.
Institute Radiation Safety Officer/Research Assistant Professor
Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics
NES Bldg., Tibbits Ave.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12180-3590

Tel: (518) 276-4014/4029
E-mail: xug2@rpi.edu
******************************************************************