Misuse of Rad Symbol

[steve.rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     RADSAFERS,
     
     I subscribe to one of those free publications, in this case called 
     "Industrial Safety and Hygiene News", that permeate our industry. I 
     received the September issue yesterday, and it had the standard rad 
     symbol (very large version) on the front of the cover with the words 
     "THE END IS NEAR" printed over it! Obviously curious, I found that the 
     message referred to my free subscription coming due for renewal. The 
     symbol is on the cover in five different places, both front and back. 
     The "end is near" message is on both the front and back as well.
     
     I wrote to the editor to express my dismay over this intentional 
     misuse of a safety-related symbol. I just received the following 
     (somewhat arrogant) reply stating that he considers this to be a valid 
     use of the symbol in their "marketing effort": (perhaps the HPS should 
     use the international Biohazard symbol in a similar "marketing 
     effort"? ;-) )
     
     >Mr. Rima,
     >Thanks for your feedback. Trade magazines across the board are 
     >finding it increasingly difficult in this hectic age to get readers 
     >to "requalify" their free subscriptions, thus resorting to various 
     >devices to grab attention and requalifications. Some call them 
     >creative; you're the first to express to me anger. I respect your 
     >opinion, though I do not agree that we're "stupid" at this end. 
     >Unless I receive more feedback from readers regarding the use of 
     >safety symbols, I'll hold to my own opinion that most readers 
     >appreciate a free subscription every month and accept our efforts to 
     >sustain those subscriptions for what they are-marketing efforts. 
     >Dave Johnson
     
     If any RADSAFERS care to let Mr. Johnson know their opinion of this 
     use of the symbol, his email address is: djsafe@bellatlantic.net
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP, CSP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene 
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     steve.rima@doegjpo.com
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