Re: MONITORING UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER PERSONNEL

[sandy_perle@email.fpl.com]

     Opinion:
     
     The answer to your question has to do with the following factors:
     
     1. While a dose history is adequate to meet regulatory requirements,   
        i.e., does the individual "require" to be monitored, the has more   
        to do with what risk are you willing to assume in the event an      
        individual enters into future litigation regarding your facility.
     
     
     2. The most difficult dose to "prove" is when NO dose is reported as   
        "measured". This brings into question the type of monitoring        
        provided, who processed it and the detailed record keeping          
        maintained. 
     
     3. If dosimetry had been previously worn, and now NO dosimetry is      
        provided, all you can address "what was" and not "what is." A       
        clever lawyer will find all kinds of things to bring up in a        
        litigation case that somehow demonstrates to a jury that the        
        environment when the litigant was "exposed" is different than the   
        "what was."
     
     4. If an individual is worn, at least you have some control of who     
        entered an area and what the dosimetry reported back. If no         
        dosimetry is provided, what methodology of control are you going to 
        refer to?
     
     
     5. As far as potential for exposure, you'd be surprised how people can 
        become exposed in ways you haven't ever dreamed of. The potential   
        is always there, when dealing with people. Don't become lax and     
        assume that people always do the right thing.
     
     
     6. You're also assuming that the x-ray machine is always working the   
        way it is supposed to be. How often do you do maintenance on the    
        unit, and how often is the timer checked, the collimation, the kvP  
        checked, etc.
     
     As I started this post, the answer each facility must ask itself has 
     to do with how much information do you want to maintain and how much 
     risk do you want to assume if you had used dosimetry and decide to 
     stop providing it. How much risk are you avoiding with providing cheap 
     dosimetry. Cheap insurance in my opinion.
     
     
     Sandy Perle        
     Supervisor Health Physics
     Florida Power and Light Company
     Nuclear Division
     Juno Beach, FL
     
     (407) 694-4219 Office
     (407) 694-3706 Fax
     
     sandy_perle@email.fpl.com
     
     homepage: http://www.wp.com/54398/home.html
     
     DISCLAIMER: The comments and opinions are mine alone and do not        
                 necessarily reflect those of my employer
  
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________

4/30/96

             Greetings:

                     Has anyone considered cancelling monitoring via
             dosimetry those personnel involved in diagnostic x-ray
             use at their University Health Centers, based on past
             exposure histories, potential for exposure in operation
             of the unit, volunteer student assistants not permitted
             in the x-ray room but receiving dosimetry, etc... ?

                     Thank you for your response(s).

                               steve hand
                               UMCP