Re: Staffing in the rad safety program

["George Anastas" <ANASTASG@facmgmtserver.fm.csus.edu>]

Dear George:

First I suggest that you contact Bob Ryan, if you have not done so 
already.

Second, I think it important to impress upon the administration of 
the diversity of activities at RPI, from the LINAC to all the labs.

Third, take a look at your State Health Department License.  If the 
scope of the Radiation Safety Program is NOT reduced, then there is a 
health and safety impact and I am sure the Health Department would be 
interested.

RPI is known for the quality of its safety programs as well as the 
superb quality of the education.  It is unambiguously clear that 
substituting students for experience personnel will lead to problems.
Indeed, the students at RPI are very good, but do not have yet the 
requisite experience and training to perform as well as a senir staff 
person.

Increased probability for RPI to make the evening news, the Troy 
Record and the Times Union-Knickerbocker News, let alone visits from 
the State Health Department.

I know RPI embraces the concept of prudent management.  Reducing 
experienced (operative word here is experience) staff is a short term  
(transient) solution to a cash flow problem.  Like the Fram Oil 
Filter person says, "Pay me now (with a replacement new oil filter 
for $4.00), or pay me later (with a new engine for $1500).

The bottom line is that if the University wants to save $$$$ by 
reducing safety staffing, then the risk (and flack) is theirs.

The Alums and industrial firms might take a second look at 
contributions, let alone flack from parents.


Good luck.  Say hello to Bob Ryan, Max Yeater and the crew at 
Tibbetts Avenue for me.

George Anastas

> Date:          Sat, 8 Apr 95 16:51:38 -0500
> Reply-to:      radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> From:          xug2@rpi.edu (Xie George Xu)
> To:            Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Subject:       Staffing in the rad safety program

> hi, RADSAFERS:
> 
> Our Radiation Safety Committee chairman just called a meeting to discuss the
> staffing problem in our radiation safety program. I need your inputs on how
> best to convince decision makers (i.e.,the university Vice President for
> Finance who has been trying to cut the budget) to replace a staff who retired.
> It seems that the budget is gone with the person. I would also like to collect
> info on how many staff you have in your program and the size of the university
> including number of labs, med. school, reator, etc. I agree with the idea that
> we can always use work-study students who are paid by the goverment, not the
> university. However, how much we can depend on the work-study students? I have
> found it very hard to convince someone to re-invest this money when they do
> not really appreciate the amount of work we do.
> 
> Your comment on this may be very helpful to me. Thanks a lot in advance!
> 
> George Xu
> RSO
> Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
> 
>