RE: RCT training

["Charris, Rafael G. TSgt" <rafael.charris@med.edwards.af.mil>]

		Shelley,

		I agree with your on qualification criteria exceptions based
on NRRPT status. I work for the Air Force and was stationed at Kirtland for
9 years, where I received most of my radiological training, though my
primary discipline is Industrial Hygiene.  I took your 6 week site-specific
training and found it interestingly challenging, particularly in the areas
that are DOE specific.  
		I try to maintain my proficiency in the radiological arena,
mostly through self-study, courses and I still practice radiation protection
to some degree, and I do hope that those of us who are actively practicing
are as well.  
		I consider training and, sometimes, re-training as a way to
keep sharp. I know several HPs and CIHs who have lost their edge in the
comprehensive sense of their knowledge, though most of us would consider
them more than competent to do their job.  My point is no one should be
exempt from training criteria, regardless of credentials.  We all have a
need to maintain proficiency.
		I only wish I had the opportunity to receive the level of
training you guys do.  I would consider it a blessing.  Still, we have to
balance experience with knowledge.  

		Rafael G. Charris, TSgt, USAF, OHST, RRPT
		NCOIC, Occupational Health Element
		Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight
		Edwards AFB CA
		(805) 277-3272 DSN 527-3272
		charrisr@med.edwards.af.mil


		 


				-----Original Message-----
				From:	Siddoway, Shelly
[mailto:ssiddo@sandia.gov]
				Sent:	Friday, October 16, 1998 2:54 PM
				To:	Multiple recipients of list
				Subject:	RE:RCT training

				I am a RCT and have worked at several DOE
installations.  All the DOE   
				sites do about the same thing--DOE mandates
the training format, even to   
				the point of determining the question
contents.  (I hope Robert Augdahl's   
				management asked DOE to okay not to test on
core academics.  And if they   
				okayed it then I need to get on our
management and get it dropped here   
				too!)  I think I have a problem with not
testing on the core that just   
				'cause someone passed the NRRPT.  The NRRPT
is a once in a lifetime   
				thing--who knows what the RCT who passed the
test 20 years ago and hasn't   
				worked rad con since remembers?  And think
of how much has changed.  I   
				think not retesting because of ongoing
training should be allowed.

				As to Kurt Myers question about if someone
fails the re-quals--I have   
				seen it happen.  On this issue each
installation has their own way of   
				"fixing" the problem.  One place just took
all the old-timers who   
				couldn't pass and made them HPTs.  Perfectly
legal by DOE standards--they   
				just have to have a RCT countersign
everything they do.  Some times, with   
				the techs who has worked a facility for
20-30 years, their knowledge is   
				more important than whether or not they do
well on written and oral   
				tests.  They also do this for the new hires
who hadn't taken the training   
				yet. I have also seen extensive one-on-one
training for the techs who   
				don't pass and then retesting.  At least one
installation allows the RCT   
				three chances to be successful.

				The integrity of past work by a RCT who
fails a requal has never came up   
				at any of the places I worked (that I ever
heard of anyway).  The tech is   
				just limited in what they can do in the
future.

				My first response to the training we RCTs
receive is that we are   
				re-trained to death.  How many times does a
RCT have to "demonstrate the   
				correct procedure for smear (swipe) surveys"
before someone will   
				acknowledge they know how to do it?  Some of
the basics should be done   
				one time only, just to make sure management
has hired a real RCT.

				At Sandia applicants, except those who had
already achieved RCT rating   
				from another installation, are given a
comprehensive test before offered   
				employment.  When I came here a year ago all
new hires then had to take 6   
				weeks (+ or -) of training, then the core
and site-specific testing, the   
				JPMs and the oral boards (in that order).
After that we were allowed to   
				go do the work.

				Shelly Siddoway
				Radiological Control Technician
				Sandia National Laboratories
				Albuquerque, New Mexico
				ssiddo@sandia.gov
	
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