Dosimeter Badges in NY

October 25, 2022 4:09 PM

I work in New York, and as a part of my job, I am exposed to x-rays. My employer failed to supply me with a dosimeter badge for the first seven months of employment. They are also not keeping current on the dosimeter badge that I have now. Is there any agency I can report them to? Is this an OSHA violation?
posted by anonymous to Work & Money (7 answers total)

I think you're looking at your state agencies and the FDA, per this EPA fact sheet. I'm not very well versed in NY agencies, but it looks like the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is a good start.
posted by General Malaise at 4:16 PM on October 25, 2022

Sorry, I guess it turns out OHSA has something to say. This would also be a good place to look further into.
posted by General Malaise at 4:18 PM on October 25, 2022 [2 favorites]

Are you in contact with your company's radiation safety officer, or is that person the one neglecting their job? Or does that person not exist?
posted by JoeZydeco at 4:58 PM on October 25, 2022 [6 favorites]

It's hard to know from your question. Not everyone who is qualified to wear a dosimeter is in a place or task where dosimeters are required every day. I'm a radiation worker (a radiological controls technician, in fact) but I haven't actually checked out and worn a dosimeter in some number of weeks. Because I haven't entered any radiation areas or handled any radioactive material. Often I wear one just so I can do those things whenever I need to, but it's not actually a problem if I don't have a dosimeter while not doing those things.

So the question is, are you doing things that actually require dosimetry? Entering posted radiation areas, handling radioactive materials? You might just be in the program inactive in case it ever comes up.

Really, JoeZydeco has the best advice - go tell your RSO you're concerned. They'll make you feel better, addressing worker concerns is part of what they do. It's not unusual for someone to have questions. And if there is a problem, they'll fix it. That's also what they do.

Most likely any violation would be of their radioactive materials license with the state, unless it was egregious enough to be a violation of the CFR title 10.
posted by ctmf at 5:17 PM on October 25, 2022 [4 favorites]

OSHA standard 1910.1096 might also apply if it's not a NRC-licensed type of thing.
posted by ctmf at 5:50 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

In my opinion, your employer is behaving exactly as they would if they knew their equipment was old and leaky and exposing employees to greater than allowed levels of radiation.

Accordingly, I would first consult a lawyer and ask what you should do to gather evidence for an eventual lawsuit against your employer in case it turns out that they have been exposing you to dangerous levels of radiation.

If you go to your employer first, they’ll just fix the problems and deny there was ever any danger whether or not there really was, and you will be left with very little recourse.
posted by jamjam at 5:50 PM on October 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

I would make anonymous calls to state OSHA and the state Labor Dept. to learn more about the rules.
posted by theora55 at 11:34 AM on October 26, 2022