Re: Re[2]: NRRPT Petition for Rulemaking

["Michael P. Grissom" <mikeg@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

In my former organization, we attempted to provide at least
one year of experience for assistant RSOs (ARSOs) before sending
the individual to smaller hospitals and clinics.  We really 
wanted 2 or more years (similar to a clinical medical physics 
internship but focused on hospital based radiation protection) 
under an RSOs direction prior to assignment to medium and 
large hospitals, and teaching centers.  Reality did not always 
meet expectations for total ARSO time, but all our RSOs met 
the 10 CFR 835 requirements.

I believe the presumption in this proposed change is that an
individual has already attained a certain experience and
training level (as required for registry in the NRRPT) to be
able to serve as an RSO at a medical institution.  I tend to
agree with Sandy; however, that working as a radiation pro-
tection technologist does not equate to the kinds of issues
an ARSO is taught (or at times "exposed" to in the school
of hard knocks) to deal with prior to qualification as an
RSO in at least a year of activity.

Adieu,

MikeG.

At 03:15 PM 2/23/96 -0600, you wrote:
>     excerpt:
>     
>     >>However, I do not support the request to reduce the hospital-based   
>       experience from 12 months to 3<<
>     --------------------------------------------------------------------
>   ...I for one believe that even 1 year's experience to head any type 
>     of a program is insufficient. One year "might" be adequate to head a 
>     program that is operating under normal conditions, but what happens 
>     when there are abnormal conditions? What is the individual's 
>     capability to think, assess and act under conditions of stress? There 
>     is a significant difference between normal and abnormal. I do not mean 
>     to imply that an individual who has many years of experience can't 
>     "screw up" or "fall apart" when things go awry. However, the 
>     individual is more apt to respond with some clarity due to seasoning 
>     in the job. One year? I don't think so.
>     
>     Sandy Perle
-----------------------
Michael P. Grissom
mikeg@slac.stanford.edu
Phone:  (415) 926-2346
Fax:    (415) 926-3030