Re: ? RCM or RSO Pre-requisites

["PAUL E RUHTER" <RUH@inel.gov>]

Supervisor, Radiation Dosimetry & Records
User ID-RUH; Mail Stop-4147;  Ext. 6-1973
You all have touched my hot button!! Mike McNaughton mentioned the need
for deductive skills to bridge the gap between basic skills and daily
application. When I started in this business over 30 years ago, an HP
Tech needed a college degree to get started and an MS in a hard science
(preferably HP-related) was needed to get into the professional ranks.
The business was still in its formative stages, continually encountering
new twists, all of which required that those involved be able to bridge
that above mentioned gap while on their feet.

The business is much more routine today, which has allowed us to become
more cost effective in our selection of people for RCT's, RSO's, etc.
Perhaps we have come too far in thinking that "anyone" can do the job,
given enough basic knowledge. Perhaps we should become more selective
again in the area of deductive skills. The education requirements served
this purpose 30-40 years ago. All those folks are gone or leaving; their
deductive skills in the HP work force need to be replenished. Food for
thought! Have a nice day! Paul E. Ruhter ruh@INEL.gov

*** Reply to note of 04/23/96 07:41

From: Mike McNaughton
To: RADSAFE --INELMAIL RADSAFE

Subject: Re: ? RCM or RSO Pre-requisites
>In this new found age where Web "facts" replace formalized
>education and training, I have a serious question.
>
>What level of Health Physics experience or education is
>considered reasonable of an RSO (Rad Safety Officer)
>or RCM (Rad Con Manager)?

To me, the key aspect of this question is "experience" vs "education".  I
think we agree that both are important at some level, but what level?.
While I don't want to blur the issue, the related issue that concerns me is
the increased emphasis in the DOE world requiring higher levels of basic
education among technicians, e.g. RCTs, but also others.  I find that using
deductive skills to bridge the large chasm between basic knowledge
(fundamental physics) and application is difficult for some, and therefore
we may not be doing everyone a service by forcing more basic education on
them. What do others think?

Stay safe, mike (mcnaught@LANL.GOV)