Re: Misuse of Rad Symbol

[Robert A Scott <bobscottchp@juno.com>]

Mr. Rima,
	I too receive a free subscription to ISHN, and look forward to it
regularly.  I have gained a vast amount of help and information in my
work from that trade magazine.  I did not receive a memo saying the end
was near with my September issue, so I can't really speak to this use of
the standard rad symbol.  But if you stated or implied that they were
stupid in using that symbol, then I think that was a most unprofessional
characterization.  We all should expect that a CHP, and Plenary member of
the HPS since 1983 (as the directory indicates you are) would choose
his/her words with care and consideration.  We can't teach with a
Louisville Slugger.
	A copy of this email will go to Dave Johnson.  His response to you
seemed to me to be quite professional, not somewhat arrogant as you
suggest.  

Bob Scott, RPO 
Roger Williams Medical Center
Providence, Rhode Island
bobscottchp@juno.com

On Fri, 17 Sep 1999 23:05:42 -0500 (CDT) steve.rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven
Rima) writes:
>     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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