Re: badge sensitivity topic

[Paul Lavely <lavelyp@uclink2.berkeley.edu>]

Bill,

I agree. When we "adjust" a dosimeter reading we document ever step and we
always get documentation that fully supports what we are doing and why we
are doing it. I think that a good example was when we adjusted to zero the
20 mrem dose that was reported by our vendor for a person who had not worn
the badge or used rad materials in the period.

Paul Lavely
Director, Office of Radiation Safety
University of California at Berkeley
lavelyp@uclink2.berkeley.edu


>If I were a plaintiff's attorney in a radiation injury lawsuit, I'd like
>nothing better than to have a dose reported by the dosimetry processor that
>was arbitrarily lowered by the licensee.  While there is the possibility that
>external factors, such as the badge being left in a hi background area,
>result in a reported dose not being valid, such situations should be the
>exception in
>a well-managed rp program, and should be thoroughly documented.  Unless
>there are these exceptional factors, the dosimetry processor's reported
>dose is
>the best available estimate of exposure; isn't that what NVLAP's all about?
>
>The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
>It's not about dose, it's about trust.
>
>Bill Lipton
>liptonw@dteenergy.com
>


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