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University of Californie
Los Alenos, New Mexico
OFFICE MEMCRANDUM
:
1SCL
Tos
Jack Clerk, J-DO
Frons
T,. L. Shipman, M. De -
Subtects
Routine Physical Exam)nations for Test Personnel
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Srabols
.
-
BEST COPY AVAILABLE 7
Date:
RG
Merch 7, 1952
326 US ATO*NC
EXT
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2 ORGY
COMAESSION
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A cortain amount of confupion end sate misunderstanding has recently arisen
over what appears to be « change in policy concerning physical exam require=
ments for those members of the Laboratary staff participating in test opere=
tions either at EFG or Enivetok. This reno is to explain the positim adopted
by H Division and to outline the procedure which we propose to follow.
It is obvious that physisel examination requirezsats for military personnel,
civilian participants, end construction workers who are to perticipste ac=
tively in test oparatinns and who will entor contaminated areas should, in
so far as it is reesonzble and proper, be uniform. The military has etroaay
stated its requireanent:: which will be found in the Hanthook of Atonic Woancas
for Kedicel, Officers uaich wee publishod in June, 1951,
and which
applies.to the /
Aruy,
.t
the
Fi
Havy,.end t:6 Air Force. In addition to the ordinary physical exaule
netion procedures, which are designed to assure thet the individual is in
average good health esd without obvious physical disability, the folloving
ocedures are elso rrquired:
¢3) chest X-rays
(1) urinelysis; (2) camplete blood count;
It {s stated in this hardbock that "if a similar eonie
viation from which weld disqualify a person fron work involving exposure to
recietion, With onl: me of these requirements can ve arbitrarily disasree:
it is stated that e-total red blood cell count above 6.5 million would dis-
qQuelify; such a blooi count is fairly camon at Los Alemos because of the
eltituds.
As far as Los Alamcs. persoonel is concerned, we will also disagree with the
Stipulation that ch3st X-rays as often aa every three months might be neces=
Bary. For Labaratrry workers under 45 years of age we do not propose to do
Fortine chest X-riyva oftensr than once a year, and far those over 45, oftenor
CONFIRMED TO BE UNCLASSIFIED
nation hes besn condusted during the pest three months, a repeat axerination
will not be necessary, provided a record of such eranination is mainteined
on file,” The hendbctk goes on to list certain physical requirements, de=-
than once in six neaths. We shall also use our discretion in the frequency of
blood counts and t!a canpleteness of physicel exeninations, but in gencral
wo will not depert) fron the spirit of the law; we mist be able to assure the
test director and a task farce commander that those vcing sent to the test
area are presusah.y and to the best of our knowledge in good health and in ©
adequate physics{ condition to withstand the rigors of the work.
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ox
It might be walj at this tine to digress maenterily to consider the quesay”
tion of chost kereays. Tho usual chest X-ray teken with stenderd oqutsee NN
using the sal] sized film, delivers to the individual's chest a d
averegcs from 250 to 300 mr, The exposure with the full sized UNE,
oPlED/DOE
film is slightly less.
In both cases the equipment is shielded oe
osure to ot/er perts of the body is mininel and insiguificent
ANL RC 7 geucrally held by the best a thoritics in tke ¢cunsry that such
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