Re: radiological signs

[John Pickering <johnjp@email.sjsu.edu>]

At San Jose State University we have instituted a simple system.  We users
outside of the Nuclear Science Facility who use radiation sources.  However,
the uses which require more strict control are with the facility.  In the
facility we maintain a plastic box (much like a mailbox) which we place new
or significantly changed information about the facility location.  Users of
those locations are instructed to review the information when entering.
Typically they use the facility for a few weeks, then they do not use it for
several months.  This way we can provide important changes in their
direction with minimal effort.  We control the information by placing a
large cover sheet with a date on it when the information has been posted.
If they have not been to the location since that date (and reviewed the
information) they can take the time before they start.  This method appears
to be effective.  Comments have been positive.  Also, if there has been
nothing posted in the box, then the standard signs prevail.  
John Pickering, RSO
San Jose State University
johnjp@email.sjsu.edu


At 10:01 AM 6/27/97 -0500, you wrote:
>The 'sameness' (i.e., visual similarity) of different radiological signs
>makes them rather ineffective for warning regular
>workers in an area of a change in conditions.  The DoE weekly summary
>describes a contamination event resulting directly from this problem
>(Summary 97-25).  Many larger facilities have such a large number of signs
>spinkled about that new ones 
>get lost in the multitude.  Simply asserting that everyone should 
>carefully read every sign before proceeding is ignoring human nature
>(i.e., conflicts with good human engineering practices to  put in fancy
>terms).
>
>Do any of you have special procedures or special signs to
>highlight a new or changed condition that you might like to share?
>
>-- 
>the above are the personal musing of the author,
>and do not represent any past, current, or future
>position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
>who might think that they are in a position of authority.
>NBSR Health Physics
>NIST
>Gaithersburg, MD 20899
>301 975-5810
>-----------------------------------------------------------
>Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
>-----------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>