Re: I-131 procedure bioassay requirement

["Bass, Billy G." <bgb3@mhg.edu>]

Mike..I totally agree with you.  Your input may be worth more than $0.02, 
maybe a nickel.  The tech's hands and body were uncontaminated but the 
thyroid was hot.  Since we initiated the procedure change--using the hood 
and treating the capsules a little more carefully- we haven't had any more 
incidents.  We increased our training but I believe the fact that the tech 
had an elevated thyroid count scared the rest into being more careful. 
 Unfortunately, nothing works better than a "little" accident to drive home 
the need for careful handling of radioactive or hazardous chemicals. In 
spite of all the training folks just naturally get careless when they don't 
perceive a real threat.
Thanks for the response.

Bill Bass
Washington Hosp. Ctr.
 ----------
From: radsafe%romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: I-131 procedure bioassay requirement
Date: Wednesday, October 01, 1997 11:38AM

        Reply to:   RE>>I-131 procedure bioassay requirement

Hi Bill & Radsafers:

What evidence, other than the bioassay result, do you have to prove the
worker's
exposure was due to inhalation?  In my experience, working with I-131 
capsules
for 12 years and I-131 liquids for 6 years prior to that, is that most of
these
contamination incidents were due to sloppy handling techniques.   Did you
survey
the techs hands upon discovery of the thyroid uptake?

Many people falsely assume capsules are sealed sources and handle them and 
the
associated lead shields WITHOUT gloves!

I believe this scenario was the true cause of the contamination which was
cited
in the paper mentioned previously in the July 1985 Health Physics.  The NRC
used
this incident to require bioassays for capsule administrations.

I believe proper training is necessary to prevent these events... bioassays
only
tell you how bad your training and compliance with that training is.

Just my $0.02 worth.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Michael J. Bohan, RSO   |  e-mail: mike.bohan@yale.edu
Yale-New Haven Hospital |    Tele: (203) 785-2950
Radiological Physics    |     FAX: (203) 737-4252
20 York St. - WWW 204   |    As usual, everything I say may be plausibly
New Haven, CT    06504  |    denied at my employer's convenience ...
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