RE: 86Rb bigger issue

["Lamothe, Emelie" <lamothee@aecl.ca>]

Rhonda

Rhonda, you should not apologize for posting your question or hesitate
to do so in the future.  As colleagues, we should be supporting each
other and discussing issues, concerns, triumphs and problems.

With all of my years in this business, and prior years in teaching,
public affairs and lobbying, the one think I learnt (real early) and now
insisted upon when meeting with various groups is that there is no such
thing as a silly or stupid question.  There is usually a valid reason
behind it, be it thirst for knowledge, concern or curiosity.

If we can't get advice, thoughts, discussion, confirmation or "heads-up,
something is coming down from above", etc.  from our fellow radsafers,
then why is the list here?

Hang in there.  Cheers.

Emelie Lamothe
lamothee@aecl.ca


 ----------
From: Rhonda O'Keefe
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: 86Rb bigger issue
Date: Friday, November 15, 1996 9:06AM

Tried to send this once but guess I shouldn't have used the word "from"!

First, I would like to thank the many kind people who took the time to
write to
me with their advice on how to shield 86Rb.

Based on the responses of one or two people, I realize that some feel
that
asking
this sort of question to RADSAFE may not be appropriate, and that they
should be
addressed directly to a health physicist in the facility.
    "Is there not a health physicist _anywhere_ at this facility who
_should_ be
     answering this question?"

To explain a little about our case, we are a small start-up company.  I
am the
RSO, and have significant experience and training, but am not a health
physicist
(I'm in charge of safety, facility, security, etc.)  We have a
consulting health
physicist from a respected local university and I have spoken to him
about
shielding 86Rb; he advised us to shield it primarily with plexiglass.
He also
mentioned that he had never worked with this isotope.

When the user decided to use a lead apron and rely mainly on lead for
shielding,
despite my having advised him otherwise, I was hoping to get (and did
get) some
responses from people who had worked with this isotope to help convince
him that
this was not the right way to go, particulary due to the potential for
over-
exposure to the hands.  Perhaps I should have worded my question to make
this
more clear, but it was also nice to hear confirmation of our
consultant's
advice.  I do apologize if this was inappropriate -- I will be very
hesitant
before asking any more questions, to be sure.

Once again, many thanks to those who provided advice and the benefit of
their
experiences with 86Rb.

Rhonda O'Keefe
rhonda_okeefe@cambneuro.com