Characterization of the temporary radiation workforce at US nuclear power plants

The temporary radiation worker is the subject of this recent study by the National Environmental Studies Project. ''Lenny'', an imaginary worker, is actually a composite of the estimated 22,000 radiation workers employed at various times at the 80 nuclear power plants in the U.S. Lenny reports to a trailer on the plant site to check in and spends the next day and a half in a training class that covers radiation safety, federal regulations and exposure limits and plant procedures. He must take and pass a written exam, then he fills out a medical history, indicating whether or not he has received any industrial radiation exposure. After three days of training and ''processing'' he dons a radiation measuring dosimeter and begins work. A key question to this study is whether the temporary employees are getting assigned the dirty work. It has been alleged that temps are used as ''glowboys'' or ''radiation sponges''. The new study finds no basis for this allegation. Data show that permanent plant staff received nearly the same average annual radiation dose as temporary employees