Re: Visitor Procedures

["James G. Barnes" <mail15077@pop.net>]

Dear Eric,

Generally, it sounds reasonable to me.  10 CFR 19 (and similar regulations in 
10 CFR 835) require that one familiarizes workers with the potential hazards in 
an area.  Accordingly, it follows that one should be familiarizing personnel 
with the fact that there is a potential hazard (however unlikely) of 
radiological exposure.

We generally show a 20 minute video tape to all our visitors (good for one 
year, so they don't have to do it each time they visit).  In certain 
situations, we may use a written briefing or a short set of verbal instructions 
from an HP Tech.  Visitors are always escorted by a qualified radiation worker.

Training generally covers what the signs mean, "mind your escort," hazards of 
low level exposures, prohibited activities, etc.

Jim Barnes, CHP
RSO
Rocketdyne Division; Rockwell International (now, Boeing North American)

=====================================

> We were recently inspected by American Nuclear Insurers and they were
> very interested in how we "train" any visitors that come into the
> reactor facility.  
> 
> Background:
>   Our facility consists of an office and a large room with two levels
> that houses the reactor, the console and all experimental and classroom
> facilities.  The reactor is an open pool 10kW reactor and at full power
> the highest dose rate is approximately 25 mrem/hr at the surface of the
> water and about 18 mrem/hr where a visitor would stand and look into the
> reactor.  Of course, we usually don't even have the reactor running and
> the rate is approximately equal to background levels.
> 
> Our current plan:
>   The insurer requires that we have every visitor sign in showing their
> (name, affiliation, date).  We will do that of course, and when the
> reactor is in operation above 1kW (5mrem/hr is seen at 2kW) we will
> issue one dosimeter to each group and at the end of the tour it will be
> read and recorded by a member of the reactor facility staff.  The real
> pain of all of this is that we often participate in our "Open House"
> here at WPI and also our Freshman orientation by giving quick 5-10
> minute tours.  We are worried that by the time they all sign the piece
> of paper they will have to leave.
> 
> Question:
>   Does this sound reasonable to everyone out there and do you think it
> should be reasonable for an insurer?  What do you do?  How do you
> "train" your visistors?  What type of information do you give them?
> -- 
> *******************************************************************
> Eric Billingsley          ericnb@wpi.edu
> WPI Mechanical Engineering        http://rso.wpi.edu/ericb
> 100 Institute Road            Home:(508)756-6742
> Worcester, MA 01609           Work:(508)831-5688
>