Re: occupational doses and restricted areas

[baumbaug@nosc.mil (Joel T. Baumbaugh)]

     Kenneth,

     In reference to your Point #1 below.

     It is a "somewhat common" practice for veterinarians to have
a  "patient's" owner (if necessary) hold the animal for x-rays as
the  intermittent/infrequent  exposure of/to the owner would  not
"statistically"   effect  their  lifetime  probability  for   any
radiation  induced effects.  IMHO, this is certainly not the case
for  a  (I  assume  unbadged)  nurse  who  holds  patients  on  a
"routine/even occasional" basis.  I would definitely consider the
circumstances you describe to be an "occupational" exposure.

     Point #2

     The  key point here is what percentage of the allowable dose
are  these  personnel "liable" to receive,  i.e. >10%??  Are  the
observers  radiation workers or general public.  If a mix, you'll
have  to take the lower amount, of course.  Prudence is the  word
that best describes visitors/observers, I think...


Joel Baumbaugh (Baumbaug@nosc.mil)
NRaD
San Diego CA  (the left coast)

Normal  Disclaimers  DO  apply - The Navy and I seldom  agree  on
anything (I'm jesting)


Date: Fri, 12 May 95 09:53:59 -0500
Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
From: "Douglass, Kenneth Harmon" <KENDOUG@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Subject:  occupational doses and restricted areas

I  have  been following the discussion of occupational  exposures
and
restricted  areas  with  some interest. We have had a  couple  of
related questions here:

1) A radiologist was telling nurses that if they held patients
during xrays, they were subject to the dose limits for general
public since they are not "radiation workers". I reread the state
regs   and  concluded  that  this  is  clearly  an  "occupational
exposure".
Do you agree?

2)  A  more  serious question has to do with the  stress  lab  in
Cardiology  where injections of Tc-99m Cardiolite are  performed.
Should observers be allowed in the room and should they be badged
or 'trained' in some  way? What dose limits apply?