Re: Just what is SAFE?

[Al Tschaeche <antatnsu@pacbell.net>]

Way to go.  I knew there were some rational people out there.  Al Tschaeche
antatnsu@pacbell.net

Michael S Ford wrote:

> If you want to get a good feel for the absurd lengths that we have
> gone to in PROTECTING people from radiation/rad. materials...
> compare the monies spent in implementing OSHA (occupational
> safety) regulations and RadCon regs  AND THEN compare the
> incidence and severity of injuries that occur in both areas.
>
> Sure radiological injuries do occur --- predominantly in the
> industrial radiography and medical fields --- but they pale in
> comparison to the sheer volume of occupational injuries that occur
> weekly throughout the U.S. and the world.  (BTW:  please spare me
> of the unsupported argument that our rad workers receiving 500
> mrem per year will contract cancer in 20 years DUE TO their
> occupational exposures).
>
> Unfortunately, what do we see instead?  "YELLOW ALERT: 14,000
> dpm alpha found on right forearm of rad worker due to intense
> sweating of rad worker in 95 deg. F / 90% RH environment where
> saturated anti-C's transferred contamination to skin.  Proposed fixed:
> wear double standard anti-C's or single waterproof anti-C's to
> prevent transfer of contamination"  And the next time out in a similar
> environment, the newly protected worker suffers heat stroke and
> almost dies.  This may sound extreme, but it actually has happened.
>
> The reason so many folks are afraid of anything radiation is that
> people in our profession get bent out of shape anytime someone
> picks up 100 mrem or a few hundred counts on their skin.  But there
> is no "injury" in these events.  In fact they pale in comparison to the
> real injuries that do occur (back strain, heat stress, lacerations,
> broken limbs)... sometimes due to the very controls that we
> implement to "protect" our workers from radiological hazards.
>
> [Tongue now firmly in cheek]... some day, as we sit in our low dose
> hormesis chambers, we'll all look back on these experiences and
> realize how foolish we've been.
>
> Have a great day!
> v/r
> Michael
> mford@pantex.com
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