ORAUT-OTIB-0010

A Standard Complex-Wide Methodology for 

Overestimating External Doses Measured with Film 

Badge Dosimeters

Report from the Procedures Review Subcommittee

Presented to the

Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health

Denver, Colorado 

October, 2013
ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Summary

• The objectives of this document are: 

– (1) evaluate the degree of standardization of typical DOE 

film dosimeters and 

– (2) develop a standard methodology for use by the DR to 

assign a dose that will result in a reasonable overestimate 

of the organ dose.

• Because the intent is to overestimate the dose for a 

quick evaluation of the potential for compensability, 

the proposed methodology is useful only for claims 

that are judged to be likely-noncompensable.

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ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Timeline

• January 12, 2004 – NIOSH Issued Revision 0

• January 17, 2005 – SC&A Review (SCA-TR-Task3)

• October 11, 2005 – NIOSH Initial Response

• July 26, 2006; June 24, 2008 – Discussed at 

Subcommittee Meetings; Findings Resolved

• June 5, 2006 – NIOSH Issued Revision 1, incorporated 

resolution of SC&A 1/17/2005 findings. This revision 

results in no change to the assigned dose and no PER was 

required.

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Findings Summary: ORAUT-OTIB-0010

• 10 Findings in total – complete histories captured in 

the Board Review System (BRS)

– http://app-cinc-dcas.cdc.gov:8106/documents/ 

default.aspx?mode=ASSIGNED 

– Resolution spanned 18 months (1/2005 to 6/2006)

– All 10 findings are Closed

• The following slides provide summary information on 

the resolution of each Finding – Details in BRS and 

handout.

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ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Review Findings

5

# Finding Resolution

1 Guidance lacking for how to 

treat missed dosimetry data in 

which the number of zero 

readings is fewer than 12 cycles.

Closed on June 24, 2008.

Revision 1 provides guidance on how to 

handle missed (or zero) dosimetry data.

2 Guidance fails to acknowledge 

that missed dose based on LOD 

(as opposed to LOD/2) 

represents 95th percentile and 

requires no uncertainty.

Closed on June 24, 2008.

Revision 1 new Table 2-1 provides specific 

instructions to the DR regarding how the 

recorded and missed dose should be 

calculated and entered into IREP.
ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Review Findings

6

# Finding Resolution

3 Document contains too much 

upfront background information 

and does not provide DR with 

guidance for maximizing external 

dose until page 8.

Closed on June 24, 2008.

In Revision 1 relevant background and 

technical basis information has been moved 

to the end of the document and 

incorporated into new Attachment A. 4 Upfront background information 

not relevant to implementation of 

procedure.
ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Review Findings

7

# Finding Resolution

5 Guidance does not address how to 

use the standard correction factor 

when recorded dosimeter dose is 

greater than zero but less the LOD 

(i.e., 40 mrem).

Closed on June 24, 2008.

Revision 1 specifies the use of 40 mrem as 

a reasonable default LOD.

6 Guidance fails to acknowledge 

that the use of the standard 

correction factor eliminates the 

need for uncertainty.

Closed on June 24, 2008.

Revision 1 new Table 2-1 provides very 

specific instructions to the DR regarding 

calculating uncertainy and how the dose 

data should be entered into IREP.
ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Review Findings

8

# Finding Resolution

7 Guidance provided in OTIB-0010 

differs from instructions in Section 

5.0 of ORAUT-PROC-0006. (PROC-006 

does not employ standard correction 

factor (SCF) to dosimeter dose but 

does apply uncertainty; OTIB-0010 

uses SCF with no uncertainty.)

Closed on June 24, 2008.

PROC-0006 was completely revised June 

5, 2006 and no longer contains guidance 

that is inconsistent with OTIB-0010.

8 OTIB does not identify its hierarchical 

position among competing 

procedures; for example, does the DR 

have the option to use either ORAUTOTIB-0010 or Attachment D-2 of 

ORAUT-PROC-0006.

Closed on June 24, 2008.

PROC-0006,Attachment D-2 has

been eliminated and PROC-0006, 

Section 5.1.1 refers the DR to OTIB0010, when appropriate.
ORAUT-OTIB-0010 Review Findings

9

# Finding Resolution

9 A standard correction factor of 2, 

which is described as encompassing 

a great deal of errors, does not 

actually appear to be excessively 

conservative based on NRC 1989 

report.

Closed on July 26, 2006.

A standard correction factor of 2 for 

every recorded dose is considered to be 

sufficiently conservative.

10 The use of a default LOD value of 40 

mR should be considered a typical 

value as opposed to a highly 

conservative one.

Closed on July 26, 2006.

An assumed LOD of 40 mR for gamma 

radiation is reasonably claimantfavorable assumption and when 

combined with the assumed monthly 

zeros it ensures missed dose is overestimated.
Questions?

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