Re: Re[2]: MONITORING UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER PERSONNEL

[lambert@HAL.HAHNEMANN.EDU]

On Tue, 30 Apr 1996 sandy_perle@email.fpl.com wrote:

>      The point I was making below has to do with a situation when the staff 
>      "doesn't always follow proper procedures." 

Your statement had to do with maintenance and proper working order of the 
equipment.

>      The machine 
>      doesn't irradiate individuals in a shielded booth, if, they are always 
>      in the proper position within the booth.

Standard design of x-ray units is for the x-ray activation switch to be 
positioned so that the technologist MUST be in the booth when the x-ray 
is on.   
    
>      As far as the comment regarding badging anyone who enters a hospital, 
>      that was not my conclusion. I am talking about individuals 
>      "performing" work in a known radiation area. That doesn't mean anyone 
>      can't sue you, for they can. 

So you HAVE decided where the risk - benefit cutoff is be for the hospital
industry.  Badging anyone who enters a hospital is too extensive even
though they can sue.  

In radiation therapy there is a high radiation area in the linear
accelerator room WHEN THE BEAM IS ON.  There is also 30 inches of concrete
shielding so that the radiation levels at the control console and in the
corridors so that the dose rates are less than 10 mrem/week.  Since only
the patient is in the room during treatment, no one is in a "known
radiation area."  Similar situations occur in diagnostic radiology.  Who
should be monitored?  The technologist at the console?  The janitor who
cleans up after the patient is removed?  The physician in the reading room
examining charts/films?  All of these individuals receive minimal
exposure.  This is the question that was originally asked. 

>      My only suggestion is that it is better to have as much information as 
>      available. It's a risk versus benefit. Each organization has to make 
>      their own decision. My opinions only.

Agreed.


Kent Lambert
LAMBERT@hal.hahnemann.edu

All opinions are well reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say they are not the opinion of my
employer. - Paraphrased from Michael Feldman.