Re: Rad workers - but not trained

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

Keith Welch stated the following:

> The techs and PhDs get enough training (hopefully) to keep from injuring 
> others, but at that level, you cannot expect the training to actually
> provide a good 'understanding' of HP.  After all, how long is the average
> hospital rad training course, a couple hours?

Very good point. The injury as I see it is the intangible injury, the 
one they cause by providing others misinformation that could have 
long term impact on their patients as well as the general population. 
There is also the cost to the facility in the way of time in 
answering their concersm, employee concerns programs where 
documentation is written up regarding their radiation exposure. Also, 
an uninformed worker with respect to radiation safety and exposure in 
general, is more apt to sue if their own health should fail. 
Statistics bear out the fact that when a worker perceives that the 
facility does not have their best interest in mind, then that person 
has a higher probablility of filing a law suit. Initial training and 
a continuing education program provide the worker with the basis that 
the employer does in fact care about them, and wants them better 
trained to do their job, and, understand the basics of what they do 
and why, when it comes to radiation safety.


> In HP it is easy to forget the
> importance of the individual doing the job because we rely so heavily on
> "the program" - as if the people carrying out the program are all
> interchangeable.  All you trainers out there who really care, give
> yourselves a pat on the back.  YOU make the difference between rad workers
> who "understand" and those who don't.

I couldn't agree with the above statement any more than the way you 
stated it. The trainer, as in any teacher or mentor, is the key 
ingredient.

------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
        sperle@icnpharm.com

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