RE: 86Rb bigger issue -Reply

[Harvey Farr <farrhc@myapc.com>]

Rhonda,

I would like to second Emelie's comments.  I have spent many hours 
contacting other power plants for solutions to radiological problems and
data/lessons learned on high dose jobs.  Why reinvent the wheel and fail
to benefit from experiences of others?  It seems to me that our workers
and companies are well served by sharing our experience.  I think that
use of this bulletin board for questions like the one you asked is just as
appropriate and relevant to promoting health physics as academic
debates about LNT and educating the public.  The colleagues who were
good enough to answer your question have benefitted real people, your
workers, right now!   What should take priority over this for individuals in
our profession?  Let's take it another step and post projects we are
working on so we can collaborate and provide our workers and
employers with the most effective and cost efficient services and
solutions available.  

>>> Lamothe, Emelie <lamothee@aecl.ca> 11/15/96 10:48am >>>
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