Re: Gamma Radiography

[stephane_jeanfrancois@Merck.Com (Stephane Jeanfrancois)]

In response to Steve T hand who wrote:

##At our university we have numerous construction projects on campus.
##There doesn't seem to be moment when a new building is not going up.

##In relation to this question, I unfortunately have an additional
##question:  How do you know they are on your site?  The state approves
##the company having the source at the site, but I do not believe they
##are under any obligation to notify the existing licensee at the site
##that a source is being brought to the site.

##We have had only one case, that I know of, involving this.  I went to
##the van the morning they arrived.  However the use of the source was
##over with in the wee hours of the morning, and the van was locked for
##developing.  The gentleman showed me his license to possess the source
##and informed me he had made sure no one was around while the source was
i##n use.   That was the end of it.


##Thank you for your respones and advice on this one.

##steve at umcp

I would answer the same thing I answered to the initiator of this 
discussion: If  you really want to know when you will have a gammagraphy 
session, you will have to speak with project engineers to know if there will 
be any welding inspection and HOW they will perform this inspection. Certain 
technical requirements ask for gammagraphy other don't (boiler testing or 
fuel tank testing is a good hint).

To make it a radsafe discussion, I can definitely say that the frequency of 
these inspections is the key factor in promoting or not a rad safety program 
for your facility. Normally, these tests are performed during the nights, 
around nighshift's break so the radiographer can set the barricades safely, 
whithout any problem(workers around) So I don't think you should loose any 
sleep over night exposures.. BUT should they decide to perform during lunch 
time, be careful ! For these occasions they are using big sources in order 
to go faster (30 seconds exposures instead of 2-3 minutes) and  for 
panoramic shots, you may definitively have some business in the place.

I don't  think that the fact that gammagraphy companies are licensed and 
responsible (liable ?) is a good reason for the RSO to ignore that 
situation. If we monitor our own researchers for working with mCi quantities 
of P-32, we should be at least aware that other workers in our site, (under 
my juridiction) may (or may not) be expose to Ci sources of hard gamma 
radiation. After all, I believe I'm there for the rad safety of the people 
in my plant  not primarily to meet and follow licence conditions .

Stephane Jean-Francois Phys. Eng
RSO
Merck Frosst Canada Inc.
stephane_jeanfrancois@merck.com
The opinion expressed in this message are my own and do not involve my 
employer.

 ----------
From: steven t hand
To: jeanfran; Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Gamma Radiography
Date:  October 23, 1996 11:16


In response to the Gamma Radiography questions:

The first question asked was:  "What do you do when they arrive?" 



At our university we have numerous construction projects on campus.
There doesn't seem to be moment when a new building is not going up.

In relation to this question, I unfortunately have an additional
question:  How do you know they are on your site?  The state approves
the company having the source at the site, but I do not believe they
are under any obligation to notify the existing licensee at the site
that a source is being brought to the site.

We have had only one case, that I know of, involving this.  I went to
the van the morning they arrived.  However the use of the source was
over with in the wee hours of the morning, and the van was locked for
developing.  The gentleman showed me his license to possess the source
and informed me he had made sure no one was around while the source was
in use.   That was the end of it.


Thank you for your respones and advice on this one.

steve at umcp