When I received my safety training several years ago the instructor told us that there was no reason to complain about radiation, now my moho has gone, Bad joke, sorry.
Seriously speaking, the company sholud told your brother something about an "ALARA program, As Low is Reasonably Achievable" this is a group of measures in order to reduce radiation exposure, and involves three factors, distance, exposure time and shielding, since shielding (dense covers to absorve radiation) is not practical for personnel working with gages on field, technicians sholud be trained to reduce the effects of exposure by reducing the time that they are close to the equipment and maintaing themselves to distances up to 3 feet. In fact, this measures should be indicated within the operator's manual of the device that he is using.
It is true that background radiation is quite diferent from site to site, however, it is my undertanding and personnel expirience that exposure levels when working with a gage are lower than those absorved when a x-ray is taken from your teeths. US Nuclear Regulatory Commision has established a maximum limit for radiation exposure per year and it has been established that exposure due to work with these devices, based on a properly operation a normal shift, is about 25 times lower than this dosis.
In order to clarify this assesment the instructor performed some calcuations, and the conclusion was that a technician must be exposed 24 hrs a day during 240 day to reach the maximum allowed dosis which is about 10 times lower than a daeadly dosis, of course a leak of radiactive material obiously can cause several injuries to people exposed to this material. It is true that leak test should be yearly performed. However,leaks can be determined base on a periodically survey with a geiger-muller meter, unusual readings on the gaiger-muller indicate that something it is not right, if leak is suspected the gage should be removed from service and additional tests performed or device should be sent to manufacturer.
These devices have been used since 1970's and has improved a lot since then, if they represent a serious risk for human healt I'm pretty sure that agencies have not been aloud them firstly.
It is also true that some people are more sensitive than others to radiation effects, nevertheless, I understand that first effects of an exessive dosis can be identified by measuring the blood levels and also some other synthoms typically exhibited, Have your brother told the doctor that he is exposed to radiation and the level of exposure?, if doctor has not been able to determine if the rashes are consequence of the exposure, may be it is time to look up for another doctor.
As civilpersons said, tell your brother that perform another duties within the company, however, I believe that this change of duties should not last until rash has gone, I'll said that he should perform another activities until it will be determined if he is higly sensitive to radiation or gage leak has been discarded. If rash is consequence of radiation exposure it should dissapered after exposure is end.
