Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological Control Manual

Chapter 6. - Training And Qualification

Part 1 - General Requirements

Table of Contents (Articles 61x)

• 611 Purpose
• 612 Standardization
• 613 Requirements
• 614 Qualification Standards for Radiological Control Technicians
• 615 Oral Examination Boards
• 616 Instructor Training and Qualifications

Article 611 - Purpose

This chapter establishes the requirements to ensure that personnel have the training to work safely in and around radiological areas and to maintain their individual radiation exposure and the radiation exposures of others As-Low-As- Reasonably-Achievable (ALARA). Training requirements in this chapter apply to personnel entering DOE sites.

Return to Chapter 6, Part 1 Table of Contents

Article 612 - Standardization

Standardized core courses and training materials shall be used to achieve consistency Department-wide. In establishing local training programs, the standardized core courses shall be presented and site-specific information shall be added. For example, training at accelerator facilities should expand course content for high energy radiation and activation products. Training at plutonium facilities should expand the course content for alpha control. In all cases, the standardized core course materials, as listed in the References section, shall be fully implemented.

Standardized core course training material developed and maintained by DOE Headquarters (EH) consists of lesson plans, designated viewgraphs, student handbooks, qualification standards, question banks and wallet-sized training certificates. The standardized core course training materials were based on ASTM E 1168 87, "Standard Guide for Radiological Protection Training for Nuclear Facility Workers," and were developed using the principles of performance-based training per DOE 5480.20. The standardized core course for the Radiological Control Technicians partially fulfills DOE training accreditation requirements of DOE 5480.18A.

1. Standardized core course training material shall be used for General Employee Radiological Training, Radiological Worker I and II training and Radiological Control Technician training.

2. Wallet-sized training certificates that identify current training status should be provided.

3. Successful completion of the standardized courses for General Employee Radiological Training, Radiological Worker I and II and Radiological Control Technician at one DOE site within the past two years shall be recognized by other DOE sites. Documentation of previous training shall include the individual's name, date of training, topics covered, and name of the certifying official. However, site-specific aspects of the radiological training shall be completed. Site-specific training for General Employee Radiological Training and Radiological Worker I and II training may be included with other site orientation training.

4. At sites where there are multiple facilities, the training may be facility-specific if personnel access is limited to those facilities for which training has been completed.

5. The site Radiological Control Manager or a designee shall concur in site-generated radiological training material.

Article 613 - Requirements

1. Examinations for General Employee Radiological Training, Radiological Worker I and II training and Radiological Control Technician qualification shall be used to demonstrate satisfactory completion of theoretical and classroom material. Examinations should be written; however, the Radiological Control Manager may approve alternatives to accommodate special needs. Alternative examinations should be equivalent in content to written examinations. The examination process should require:

2. That a minimum passing score be established
3. That true/false questions not be included
4. Use of questions randomly selected from the question bank
5. Acknowledgement by signature that the student participated in a post-examination review
6. That competence in required skills be measured using performance- based examinations
7. Remedial actions for failure to meet the minimum score
8. That the question bank contain questions that test what the student is expected to remember months after the training rather than to test short term memory of theoretical material.

• Training should address both normal and abnormal situations in radiological control.

• General Employee Radiological Training shall be completed every 2 years. Changes to the program shall be incorporated as they are identified and a decision made if retraining prior to the 2 year period is needed. In the alternate year when full retraining is not completed, the latest General Employee Radiological Training Handbook (Student Guide) should be distributed for self-study.

• Radiological Worker I and II retraining shall be completed every 2 years. In the alternate year when retraining is not performed, refresher training shall be completed.

• Site-specific training and refresher training shall include changes in requirements and updates of lessons learned from operations and maintenance experience and occurrence reporting, for the site and across the DOE complex.

• Verification of the effectiveness of radiological control training should be accomplished by surveying a limited subset of former students in the workplace. This verification is in addition to performance evaluations routinely performed by training departments. This evaluation should include observation of practical applications, discussions of the course material, and may include written examinations. The survey should be performed by Radiological Control managers and supervisors, quality assurance personnel or senior instructors after the former student has had the opportunity to perform work for several months. The results should be documented.

• Requirements for respiratory protection training are included in Article 531.

• Training programs developed for radiological control should meet the requirements for performance-based training and, when applicable, training accreditation.

• Reading and comprehension skills in the English language are generally necessary for General Employee Radiological Training. The Radiological Control Manager is authorized to approve alternative temporary training methods for those lacking reading and comprehension skills in the English language until adequate English language skills can be achieved. Training in an alternate language should be equivalent to training in English. Visitor orientation and the use of trained escorts provide an alternate to training with the concurrence of the Radiological Control Manager.

• Additional requirements for personnel training at Category A reactors are stated in DOE 5480.20.

• Training records and course documentation shall meet the requirements of Article 725. Return to Chapter 6, Part 1 Table of Contents

Article 614 - Qualification Standards for Radiological Control Technicians

1. Qualification Standards define the requirements for demonstrating completion of training. Signatures on the forms in Qualification Standards shall document satisfactory proficiency.

2. Qualification Standards from the standardized core course shall be used.

3. The Qualification Standards from the standardized core course shall be supplemented to include site-specific elements.

4. Qualification Standards for the Radiological Control Technician position shall include on-the-job training to provide hands-on experience directly applicable to the job.

5. On-the-job trainees shall be under the control of qualified personnel. Before performing a job function without direct supervision, a trainee with partially completed qualifications shall have completed the qualifications for that task.

Article 615 - Oral Examination Boards

1. An Oral Examination Board shall determine the qualification of candidates for Radiological Control Technician and Supervisor positions. The Oral Examination Board provides an opportunity to identify areas of weakness related to performance of Radiological Control Technician duties and Supervisor functions. The Oral Examination Board also provides the opportunity to identify additional training needs to enhance Radiological Control Technician and Supervisor training programs.

2. The Radiological Control Manager shall designate the Board members and appoint a Chairperson.

3. The Board constituted to evaluate Radiological Control Technician qualification should be composed of at least three persons to include a Radiological Control Technician Supervisor, Radiological Control staff, and line management operations department supervisors and staff personnel, as applicable. Radiological Control Technician Instructors may participate as nonvoting members.

4. The Board should assess the candidate's response to normal and emergency situations. Questions should be of the type that are not normally covered in a written examination.

5. The Board constituted to evaluate Radiological Control Technician Supervisor qualification should not include peers or subordinates as voting members.

Article 616 - Instructor Training and Qualifications

1. All instructors should be qualified in accordance with the contractor's site Instructor Qualification Program or possess equivalent qualifications.

2. Instructors should have the technical knowledge, experience and instructional skills required to fulfill their assigned duties.

3. Instructors-in-training shall be monitored by a qualified instructor.

4. Subject matter experts without instructor qualification may provide training in their areas of expertise. However, these subject matter experts should be trained as instructors when this occurs routinely.