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RE: Medical Exam
Steven Van Slyckle stated the following:
> Isn't a whole body count part of the employment at a gov. nuclear
> facility? I know it is here.
Whole Body counting may be what is required by a facility to ensure
that an internal dose assessment is performed. The frequency and
criteria for conducting this assessment will be based on the
facility operating procedures. The question had to do with whether or
not an individual is required by law, to inform their employer if
they have been subjected to a medical procedure whereby they have
internal dose, which would set off a portal monitor, or other
detection device. There is no requirement. The facility is required
to ensure that any intake (uptake) of radioactive material due to
their operations must be included in the employee's dose report and
documents. This may include a frisking program, portal monitor or
body burden analysis.
There are many facilities that do not routinely perform BBA as often
as they had done in the past (commercial nuclear power). This is
because of the regulatory changes and the TEDE ALARA program. It is
sufficient enough to reduce a burdensome program when there are clear
indicators available to determine which parts of your population need
the increased assessment. This is simple as the jobs an individual
works, potential for internal contamination, etc.
Whole body counting, when done infrequently, is NOT a realistic
indicator of whether or not an individual in fact received an intake.
There are many factors involved. The WBC is the outcome process ..
what is needed is the front-end processes to determine when and whom
needs the BBA, or other appropriate assessment.
Back to the question at hand .. there is no regulatory requirement to
force an individual to provide information on their medical
treatments. The employer can restrict the individual if they so
chose, but that could also lead to legal action initiated by the
employee. But that is another debate all together.
------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306
Fax: (714) 668-3149
mailto:sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
mailto:sperle@icnpharm.com
ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com (~ July 27)
Personal Homepage:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205
http://www.netcom.com/~sandyfl/home.html
"The object of opening the mind, as of opening
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
- G. K. Chesterton -