OSHA
 

Not sure if this has been brought up or even applies to TSA sceeners. Does anyone even know how much radiation the TSO is exposed to by standing next to the NOS for x amount of hours? Would OSHA rules regarding radiation safety even apply?

The question's been raised. No one knows and screening clerks aren't even allowed to wear dosimeters. A separate OSHA-like entity covers federal employees.

~~ Irish

TSA isn't issuing lead aprons, so they obviously don't care where the next generation of screeners comes from.

Don't expect to see any TSOs start wearing lead vests near the backscatter machines. That would just alert the flying public to the potential dangers from these devices.

What about a Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)? They're required for things as innocuous as Windex in government settings - surely one must exist for the NoS. Do we, as passengers, have the right to request to see the MSDS that, by all rights, should be on file in the terminal?

(It wouldn't necessarily make a difference, but it sure would throw the TSOs for a loop...)

Why are you worried? They're safe.

:rolleyes:

MSDSs are not required for pieces of equipment, only for chemicals and chemical substances.

I am amazed that dosimetry is not required for personnel working around the NoS. If I were a TSA screener (and I hope that I never am that destitute or desperate that I have to be one), I would be insisting on a dosimeter and I would be looking for regular radiation checks and equipment calibration and maintenance information. Perhaps there is a dosimter mounted in the are of the machine on not on personnel.

And IIRC OSHA does have jurisdiction at government facilities. At least they did when I worked at one (though I worked for a gov contractor).

The one independent study published (Johns Hopkins) said there was an area (maybe a meter wide?) around certain parts of the scanner where employees could receive a higher-than-recommended dose if the machine was in heavy use.

1 meter is ~ 3 feet. TSOs have always been that close to it when I see them.
You mean like during the course of an 8 hour shift? or the 24+ hours it is on?

I've been tempted to 'drop a dosimeter ' near the scanner. I know in Atlanta that no one will notice it for at least a month.
And I'm sure it has been brought up elsewhere - but in the back of my mind with thousands going in it and around it how often is the maintenance and calibration? I'm sure that info is SSI.

You can download the pdf here.

Page 26-28 of the report. One of their recommendations is site testing and monitoring because of the potential to exceed the recommended dose.

I was off - at the entry and exit the area has higher-than-recommended radiation to approximately 1.7 feet outside the entrance and exits.

Not allowed, or not provided?

If not provided, let's buy a few.

If not allowed, ehgads.

what about people required to travel for work? Basically they are required to submit themselves to what ever the TSA says including radiation in order to do there jobs...

Yup.. The PRO TSA people will say that we should just find another way to travel if we don't like this :rolleyes: