RE: Asking for opinions -Reply

["Harmon, Terry O'Devah (ONF) " <onf@bechteljacobs.org>]

I have worked at DOE facilities for 12 years.  I spent 9.5 years at the NTS
(5.5 as an RCT and 4 as a Health Physicist) and have been at the ETTP
(formerly K-25) Site for 2.5 years as an RCT.  At both places we take our
TLDs home.  As an HP at the Test Site I have done a few dose investigations.
It turned out that most of the unexpected doses were non-occupational.  A
prime example is the worker who would take his Security badge/dosimeter off
and put it in the same orange dish on the bar every night.  I guess everyone
can guess that the orange dish turned out to be fiesta ware.  This happened
a lot.  People forgot their badges in the morning and would have to be
issued temporary badges.  Chromic forgetters would have their badges taken
by security when they left and returned in the morning.  I asked why they
didn't do this for everyone so that they would have better control of the
dosimeters.  I was told that it would be too much trouble to take dosimeters
from 6000 people and return them every morning.
Here in Oak Ridge, they use automated badge readers to allow access.
Private vehicles aren't allowed.  The dosimeters are attached to the badge
for convenience.  I suppose they figure convenience outweighs control.

Terry Harmon, RRPT
SR. HP Tech
Kelly Scientific Resources
Phone: (423) 241-0281
Pager: (423) 417-1592
Email: harmonto@ornl.gov

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Sandy Perle [SMTP:sandyfl@earthlink.net]
> Sent:	Thursday, September 16, 1999 11:04 AM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Re: Asking for opinions -Reply
> 
> Charlie is absolutely correct. Dose is dose .. period. When an 
> unexpected read occurs, you better have a good, detailed evaluation 
> as to why the unexpected dose is rejected, and an estimate used in 
> its place.
> 
> In my opinion, when a dosimeter is allowed to stray all over the 
> place, there is a lack of management control over whatever dose is 
> reported. I never liked allowing dosimeters to be worn off-site. This 
> doesn't mean that unexpected doses can not occur within the facility 
> .. from intentional misuse, walking into an unknown radiation 
> environment, etc. But, there is less potential for an unexpected dose 
> when the dosimeter is worn side by side with the electronic 
> dosimeter, which is not the case when you walk thorough the facility 
> exit door.
> 
> Sandy Perle
> E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 
> Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
> 
> "The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
> the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
>               - G. K. Chesterton -
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