Re: Air Crew Rad Workers

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu>]

I can think of a number of cogent reasons why monitoring of air crews
should be done.  First, there may well be a regulatory requirment since
exposures may exceed 25% of the annual MPD.  But that notwithstanding, it
would be nice to accumulate the data for research purposes, a basis
secondary to ensuring that exposures are minimized.  Adjustment of flight
schedules can reduce exposures to individuals.  You should refer to the
editorial I wrote in Health Physics about 15 years ago entitled "What Is
Occupational Exposure" for some other insights.

Ron Kathren


On Fri, 10 May 1996 sandy_perle@email.fpl.com wrote:

>      While it is a fact that some crews might be exposed to enough
>      radiation exposure over a year due to a lot of flight time, there is
>      no justification to require monitoring the individual. There is no
>      Licensee which rules out the NRC. Other than restricting flight time
>      there is no reasonable method to reduce their time in flight, which is
>      already reduced by FAA requirements for other reasons. You're NOT
>      going to shield the plane and they're not going to wear protective
>      shielding either. As far as monitoring, if it were required, who is
>      going to be responsible for maintaining the dosimetry records? Who is
>      going to regulate it (as stated, there are many jurisdictions that are
>      involved). I for one would hope that the FAA act upon the many
>      recommendations they already have on their plate, and implement them,
>      such as upgraded flight air traffic control computer systems that
>      provide a better reliability factor, better and more frequent
>      inspections of the equipment that is in the air where these
>      individuals are exposed, installed wind shear equipment, more frequent
>      flight simulator training, implement the same safety requirements for
>      all aircraft that fly passengers, be they foreign or smaller US
>      airlines. In my opinion these are examples where the health and safety
>      of the crew, as well as the flying public, would be better served than
>      trying to maintain records of exposure, that we all agree is "most
>      likely" lower than monitoring required for radiation workers who are
>      exposed from activities that are "licensed", which flight crew
>      exposure is not.
>
>      Sandy Perle
>      Supervisor Health Physics
>      Florida Power and Light Company
>
>      (407) 694-4219 office
>      (407) 694-3706 fax
>
>      e-mail sandy_perle@email.fpl.com
>
>      The opinions expressed are solely mine
>
>      homepage: http://www.wp.com/54398/home.html
>
>