Re: Occ Dose

[kayrs@peak.org (R. S. Kay)]

>
>Hi All... got a question:
>
>
>                       
>My question is then, can you get a "public dose" in a restricted area? I 
>know that 10cfr19 states training requirements for restricted area access, 
>but does this mean that tours, visitors and emergency response personnel 
>are all receiving an occupational dose if they eneter restricted areas?
>
 
Bruce:

This is subject to intepretation, and I interpret as follows:

The public dose is that dose that the general public may receive while in an
area that is open to the public in an area where radiation may be present.
This is prevalent in hospital nuc. med. departments, any doctor's or
veterinary office where the general public may be exposed to forms of
radiation.  The dose up to this last year was 500 mRem for the general
public in these areas, but this year the new 10CFR20 states that it must be
100 mRem or less for the year.

If personnel who are not occupationaly exposed (i.e. badged already) are in
the area, (e.g. receptionists, waiting room clients, nurses, etc) then the
entire office etc., must be surveyed to assure compliance and of course
documentation that the background dose does not exceed that 100 mRem/year.

richard


                                   
 
kayrs@peak.org
Richard Kay, MSc, RT(R)

KNOWLEDGE IS THE FIRST PREREQUISITE IN RADIATION SAFETY
still in the construction stage  8^)