U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Health Physics Position on Task Qualification of HP Technicians

HPPOS-238 PDR-9111210362

Title: Health Physics Position on Task Qualification of HP

Technicians

See the memorandum from L. J. Cunningham to J. H. Joyner

(and others) dated September 20, 1991. Health Physics

Technicians (HPTs) may independently perform specific tasks

or job assignments if they meet the required prerequisites

and complete the required task qualifications of their

plant training programs. There are certain tasks and job

assignments, however, that require in-depth knowledge and

can only be performed by fully qualified ANSI technicians.

ANSI / ANS 3.1-1987, "Selection, Qualification and Training

of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants," states that while

in an initial training program an HPT may not make

decisions (give authorization) or take actions affecting

plant safety until they meet the performance requirements

of the job position assigned. However, they may

independently perform specific tasks or job assignments for

which they are qualified.

HPTs are allowed to perform (without supervision) specific

tasks or job assignments (i.e., radiation surveys, swipe

surveys, air samples, and survey meter calibrations) if

they meet the required prerequisites and complete the

required task qualifications of their plant training

program. However, there are certain tasks that require

in-depth knowledge and can only be performed by fully

qualified and experienced personnel.

The following general items are examples of areas which a

non-fully qualified HPT should not be authorized to perform

(without supervision):

- The free release of radioactive materials from

the restricted area.

- Approval of effluent release permits.

- Approval of radiation work permits.

- Receipt and shipping of radioactive material.

Also, as examples in the area of Emergency Preparedness, a

non-fully qualified HPT should not be authorized to:

- Lead emergency search and rescue teams.

- Lead environmental monitoring teams.

- Perform offsite dose assessment.

Each Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)

accredited licensee training program will vary somewhat in

its approach on qualifying its HPTs. However, each program

should be based on a systems approach to training (SAT).

The SAT should include the following key areas: how were

criteria derived to select tasks to be done without

supervision, and how are HPTs evaluated against these

criteria to permit / authorize them to work unsupervised.

Regulatory references: ANSI / ANS 3.1-1987

Subject codes: 1.1, 1.2

Applicability: Reactors