A320 first officer reports finding the weather radar in the 'on' position upon entering the cockpit ...

Narrative:

I met the aircraft as it parked. Some maintenance personnel went into the cockpit as passengers deplaned. While that was occurring; I did my walk around. After getting into the cockpit; I immediately found the weather radar in the 'on' position with a ground returns showing on the nav display. I was irradiated. I do not know the short term or the long term health effects of this irradiation. I do not think that company procedures allow radar technicians to stand in front of an emitting radar for good reasons. It is bad for your health. The ground crew was also subject to this radiation. The company apparently has no idea what to do if their personnel have been subjected to the powerful; full strength; weather radar radiation. There is no medical support for this occurrence. I want to be clear that I do not know if I will be subject to any short term or long term health effects. As of now; 15 minutes after the incident; I do not feel dizzy or nauseous. Without any medical support available and feeling asymptomatic; I feel I must fly tonight's trip or be subject to administrative punishment procedures for using sick list if I refuse to fly due to my fear of how I may be affected by this exposure. This is a serious lapse on many levels.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 First Officer reports finding the weather Radar in the 'ON' position upon entering the cockpit after completing the walk around preflight; and believes he has been irradiated.

Narrative: I met the aircraft as it parked. Some maintenance personnel went into the cockpit as passengers deplaned. While that was occurring; I did my walk around. After getting into the cockpit; I immediately found the weather Radar in the 'on' position with a ground returns showing on the Nav Display. I was irradiated. I do not know the short term or the long term health effects of this irradiation. I do not think that company procedures allow radar technicians to stand in front of an emitting radar for good reasons. It is bad for your health. The ground crew was also subject to this radiation. The company apparently has no idea what to do if their personnel have been subjected to the powerful; full strength; weather radar radiation. There is no medical support for this occurrence. I want to be clear that I do not know if I will be subject to any short term or long term health effects. As of now; 15 minutes after the incident; I do not feel dizzy or nauseous. Without any medical support available and feeling asymptomatic; I feel I must fly tonight's trip or be subject to administrative punishment procedures for using Sick List if I refuse to fly due to my fear of how I may be affected by this exposure. This is a serious lapse on many levels.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	957491
Time
Date	201107
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 3500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

A320 first officer reports finding the weather radar in the 'on' position upon entering the cockpit after completing the walk around preflight; and believes he has been irradiated.