Re: Answers to Electronic Dosimetry Operability Checks

[dmercer@email.fpl.com]

     Jamie
     
     As a power reactor user of EPDs, the alarm response check is a very 
     important feature to me.  Our operating license contains requriements  
     for entering high radiation areas and provides several options.  One 
     of the options is the use of what we call the EPD (terminology has 
     changed over the years).  The key feature is the alarming aspect of 
     the dosimter.  I would find it as difficult to justify not checking 
     out the alarm function of an EPD when it is issued to the worker as I 
     would in not performing a source check of a survey instrument prior to 
     performing a survey.
     
     Our experience has shown that there are a very small number of 
     failures in the alarm check when looking at the big picture.  In 1995 
     we had actual 41 actual alarm check failures and so far in 1996 we 
     have had 16. We have had some pseudo-failures which involved the 
     worker not inserting the dosimeter in the reader properly.  In putting 
     these in perspective, we have 1000 EPDs in service and there have been 
     over 250,000 uses of the EPDs this year. While the number of failures 
     is small when compared to the overall useage, they are real and can be 
     detected prior to issue.
     
     We have been using the MG equipment since 1989 and have used both the 
     DMC-90 and DMC-100 model dosimeters. 
     
     My apologies for not answering your request, but I totally missed it.  
     If you want to discuss this further, give me a call at (561) 467-7302.
     
     Hayden 'Doc' Mercer
     FPL - St. Lucie Plant
     dmercer@email.fpl.com
     normal disclaimers apply - whaterver that really means.


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Answers to Electronic Dosimetry Operability Checks
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at Internet-Mail
Date:    9/24/96 07.50


About a week ago I posted a request for information about how
operability checks for electronic dosimetry are performed.  Specifically I 
wondered if the readers check the speaker function prior to entry.  I 
received two responses to my question.  One was from a user who
agreed that the speaker function should be checked.  The second was 
from a vendor explaining that his product does not require a check 
because of the high reliability.
     
Opinion
     
I felt that I made a reasonable request for information and was 
disappointed at the poor response.  Many RADSAFE users tend to use
this forum for 'soapbox'  type postings.  I believe that the free expression 
of informed opinion is an important part of life in a democratic society, 
however I am sorry that the majority of the RADSAFE posts are in the
opinion category.
     
Jamie Mallon