GENERAL TECHNICAL BASE QUALIFICATION STANDARD

Defense Nuclear Facilities

Program Technical Employees

U.S. Department of Energy

Washington, D.C. 20585

May 1995

Approval and Concurrence

The Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration is the Management Sponsor for the Department-wide General Technical Base Qualification Standard. The Management Sponsor is responsible for reviewing the Qualification Standard to ensure that the technical content is accurate and adequate for Department-wide application. The Management Sponsor is also responsible for ensuring that the Qualification Standard is maintained current. Concurrence with this Qualification Standard by the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration is indicated by the signature below.

The Technical Personnel Program Coordinator (TPPC) is responsible for coordinating the consistent development and implementation of the Technical Qualification Program throughout the Department of Energy. Concurrence with this Qualification Standard by the Technical Personnel Program Coordinator is indicated by the signature below.

The Technical Excellence Executive Committee (TEEC) consists of senior Department of Energy managers. This Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the Qualification Standard for Department-wide application. Approval of this Qualification Standard by the Technical Excellence Executive Committee is indicated by the signature below.

NOTE: The signatures below reflect concurrence and approval of this Qualification Standard for interim implementation. Final concurrence and approval will occur in December 1995, pending comments received based upon implementation.

CONCURRENCE:

Assistant Secretary for Technical Personnel Program

Human Resources and Administration Coordinator

APPROVAL:

Chairman

Technical Excellence Executive Committee

PURPOSE

APPLICABILITY

IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

CORE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Section:

1. NUCLEAR PHYSICS FUNDAMENTALS
2. RADIOLOGICAL FUNDAMENTALS
3. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
4. QUALITY ASSURANCE
5. INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
6. CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS
7. NUCLEAR SAFETY DOCUMENTS AND EVALUATION
8. TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS

GENERAL TECHNICAL BASE QUALIFICATION STANDARD

PURPOSE

The General Technical Base Qualification Standard is intended to ensure that all technical employees in the defense nuclear facility qualification program have a common level of core technical knowledge. Completion of these requirements also ensures that technical employees have the requisite general knowledge to be sufficiently prepared to meet the next level of technical competency requirements in applicable functional categories. The General Technical Base Qualification Standard provides the base knowledge of the Technical Personnel Qualification Program. Functional Area Qualification Standards build on this base knowledge to provide greater knowledge and skills for each individual functional area. Facility/Site Specific Qualification Standards build upon the knowledge and skills of the functional areas and provide the unique knowledge and skills for a functional area at a specific facility or site.

APPLICABILITY

This qualification standard applies to all Department of Energy technical personnel involved with providing management direction or oversight that could impact the safe operation of defense nuclear programs. Personnel designated by Headquarters or field element line management as participants in the defense nuclear facility technical qualification program are required to meet all of the core competencies described in this standard. There are no continuing or retraining requirements associated with the General Technical Base Qualification Standard.

IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

The General Technical Base Qualification Standard addresses eight technical areas. Each of the areas is defined by one or more competency statements indicated by bold print. Each of the competency statements is further described by a listing of supporting knowledge and/or skills statements. The competency statements define the expected knowledge and/or skills that an individual must posses to meet the intent of the qualification area. The supporting knowledge and/or skills statements further describe the intent of the competency statement. However, each of the supporting knowledge and/or skills statements do not necessarily have to be fulfilled to meet the intent of the competency.

Headquarters and field elements shall establish a program and process to ensure that all personnel required to participate in the defense nuclear facility technical qualification program meet the requirements of this qualification standard. Documentation of completion of the requirements of this qualification standard shall be included in the employee's training and qualification record. Additional information on the technical qualification and documentation process for The Department's technical personnel is provided in the Professional Development of Federal Technical Personnel document (June 1994). This document is available from the Office of Professional and Technical Training and Development (HR-33).

Equivalencies may be granted for individual areas of the standard based upon an evaluation of the employee's prior education, experience and/or training. Documentation of equivalencies must indicate how the competency statements of the subject area(s) have been met. The supporting knowledge and/or skills statements should be considered when evaluating that the competency statements have been met.

Training shall be provided to employees in the defense nuclear facility technical qualification program that do not meet the intention of the competencies listed in one or more of the sections of the qualification standard. Departmental training will be based upon supporting knowledge and/or skills statements similar to the ones listed for each of the competency areas. Headquarters and field elements should use the supporting knowledge and/or skill statements as a basis for evaluating the content of training courses used to provide individuals with the requisite knowledge and/or skills to meet the intent of the qualification standard competency requirements. The method used to evaluate that the employee satisfied the knowledge and/or skill requirements upon the completion of the training shall be documented. The recommended method of evaluation is the successful completion of a written examination. The completed written examination should be retained in the employee's training and qualification record.

CORE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Sections 1 through 8 contain the General Technical Base Qualification Standard competency statements and associated knowledge and/or skill statements.

Section 1: NUCLEAR PHYSICS FUNDAMENTALS

1.1 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of basic atomic structure.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Identify the basic particles that compose the atom and describe their relationship, associated mass, and charge.

b. Describe the Bohr Model of the atom.

c. Define the following terms:

d. Referring to the AZ X notation for a specific nuclide, determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

1.2 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of basic nuclear theory and principles.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Describe the three forces that are found within a nucleus.

b. Define mass defect and binding energy and discuss their relationship.

c. Describe the following processes, and trace the decay chain for a specified nuclide on the chart of the nuclides.

d. Define the following terms:

e. Describe the following neutron/nucleus interactions:

f. Compare and contrast capture (absorption), fission, and particle ejection nuclear reactions.

1.3 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the basic fission process and results obtained from fission.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Explain the fission process utilizing the liquid drop model.

b. Compare and contrast the characteristics of fissile material, fissionable material, and fertile material.

c. Discuss the various energy releases that result from the fission process.

d. Define criticality and explain how it is detected.

e. List five factors that affect criticality.

f. Identify the hazards that result from an unwanted criticality.

g. Explain the double contingency principle as it relates to criticality control.

Section 2: RADIOLOGICAL FUNDAMENTALS

2.1 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of radiological controls, practices, procedures, and theory.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Define ionizing radiation.

b. Describe how nuclear radiation is generated.

c. Describe each of the following forms of radiation in terms of structure, electrostatic charge, interactions with matter, and penetration potential:

d. Discuss the types of materials that are best suited for shielding the above radiation types.

e. Describe the biological effects and the primary hazard(s) of each radiation type.

f. Discuss radiation dose and how it is measured including the terms RAD, REM, Roentgen, and international standard units (SI).

g. Define Quality Factor and describe how it is used.

h. Define the term ALARA and describe the basic methods for achieving ALARA.

2.2 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of contamination control, practices, procedures, and theory.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Define contamination and describe three types of contamination.

b. Describe three ways to control contamination.

c. Describe how contamination is detected.

d. Describe three ways contamination could enter the body and the methods used to prevent internal contamination.

e. Describe the methods used for internal dose determination.

f. Describe the types of personnel protective equipment.

2.3 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of basic radiation detection methods and principles.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Describe the type of radiation detected and the method of radiation detection of the following radiation detection instruments;

b. Describe the proper use, function, and radiation detected by different types of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters and Pocket Ion Chambers.

c. State the purpose and function of the following radiation monitoring systems:

Criticality Area Process Airborne

2.4 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the requirements documents for radiological control practices, procedures, and limits.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Discuss the purpose of 10 CFR 835.

b. Referring to the DOE Radiological Control Manual, locate and discuss the following requirements:

Access training Dose limits Posting types and use

Access Requirements

2.5 Using references, personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the purpose of the following DOE Orders:

Section 3: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

3.1 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of DOE/Federal orders, standards, and regulations related to environmental protection, restoration, and waste management issues.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Discuss the purpose of the following environmental regulations as they apply to the Department and Management & Oversight Contractors:

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act-Superfund Act (CERCLA)

b. Using references, discuss the purpose of the following environmental regulations as they apply to the Department and Management & Oversight Contractors:

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
Atomic Energy Act
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Clean Air Act (CAA)
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
Federal Facilities Compliance Act (FFCA)
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1988 (FIFRA)
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA)
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA)
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act (SARA)
Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)

c. Using references, discuss the purpose of the following DOE Orders as they apply to the Department and Management & Oversight Contractors:

d. Compare and contrast the associated material classification criteria for the following:

3.2 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the purpose and general content of the sections of a typical Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Using a typical Environmental Impact Statement as a reference, discuss the purpose of the sections as they apply to the Department and Management & Oversight Contractors.

b. Using a typical Environmental Impact Statement as a reference, discuss the role of the Department in the generation, review, and approval process associated with an Environmental Impact Statement.

3.3 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the purpose and content of 29CFR1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Using 29CFR1910.120 as a reference, discuss its purpose as it applies to the Department and Management & Oversight Contractors with respect to:

Cleanup Operations
Corrective Actions
Voluntary Clean-up Operations
Operations Involving Hazardous Wastes
Emergency Response Operations

b. Using 29CFR1910.120 as a reference, discuss the role of the Department in the identification, assessment, and reaction to potential risks posed by hazardous wastes that exist at Department sites.

3.4 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of potential personal and organizational liability associated with the Federal environmental regulations with applicability to Department facility operations.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Using references, discuss the Departments liabilities associated with the following environmental regulations as they apply to the Department and Management & Oversight Contractors:

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Clean Air Act (CAA)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - Superfund Act (CERCLA)
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act (SARA)
Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)

3.5 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of potential personal and organizational liability associated with the Federal Facilities Compliance Act (FFCA)

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Using the Federal Facilities Compliance Act as a reference, discuss the Departments liabilities associated with the Federal Facilities Compliance Act including the following:

Federal Agency Liability
Federal Employee Liability
Civil Penalties
Criminal Penalties
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Section 4: QUALITY ASSURANCE

4.1 Personnel shall demonstrate the knowledge of Quality Assurance principles necessary to assure safe, effective and efficient operation of DOE sites and associated facilities.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Referring to DOE Order 5700.6C, Quality Assurance, discuss the purpose and key features of the ten (10) criteria to be used in developing Quality Assurance Programs.

b. Referring to NQA-1, Nuclear Quality Assurance, discuss the purpose of the eighteen (18) basic quality assurance requirements.

c. Discuss the essential elements of a Quality Assurance Plan.

d. Discuss the Department's responsibilities for the implementation, assessment, and improvement of Quality Assurance Programs

e. Describe the purpose, origination process, review process, and approval process for Quality Assurance procedures.

f. Discuss the purpose, the implementation process, and the reporting process associated with Quality Assurance Audits.

g. Discuss the relationship between Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

h. Referring to DOE Order 5480.26, "Trending and Analysis of Operations Information Using Performance Indicators," discuss the purpose as it relates to Quality Assurance issues.

i. Discuss the purpose and requirements of 10CFR830.120

Section 5: INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

5.1 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) necessary to identify safe/unsafe work practices.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Describe DOE's responsibilities with respect to OSHA including the following:

b. Using references, discuss the purpose of 29 CFR 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

c. Using references, discuss the purpose of 29 CFR 1960, Basic Program Elements for Federal Employee Occupational Safety and Health and Related Matters.

d. Discuss the regulatory interfaces between OSHA and other regulatory agencies.

e. Discuss workplace inspection techniques.

f. Discuss the major components of the OSHA Hazard Communication Protocol.

g. Using references, discuss the purpose of the following DOE Orders:

5.2 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of Fire Safety for Department facilities necessary to identify safe/unsafe work practices.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Discuss the critical aspects of fire prevention, emergency planning and control of fires.

b. Describe fire hazards that could affect the safety of facility personnel.

c. Discuss the key elements of the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code.

d. Discuss the purpose of Fire Hazard Analysis.

e. Describe the characteristics and methods/agents used to extinguish the following classes of fires:

f. Discuss the key components and use of building fire protection equipment including:

Detection, alarm, and communication systems
Extinguishing systems (automatic and manual)

g. Using references, discuss the purpose of DOE Order 5480.7A, Fire Protection.

5.3 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the principles of electrical safety, referring to OSHA standards and the National Electrical Code, necessary to identify safe/unsafe work practices.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Discuss the types of protection afforded by the following:

Fuses Grounding devicesCircuit breakers

b. Discuss conditions which may result in electrical shock.

c. Given a workplace situation involving the use of electrical equipment, identify applicable standards using 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S to determine if the situation is in compliance and discuss the appropriate corrective measures.

d. Discuss the proper method for removing a victim from an energized circuit.

e. Discuss the general guidelines in the DOE Electrical Safety Guidelines, DOE/ID-10600

5.4 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of hazardous chemicals and hazardous waste operations, treatment, storage, and disposal necessary to identify safe/unsafe practices.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Using references, Discuss the purpose of the following Department Orders:

5.5 Personnel shall demonstrate a knowledge of industrial hygiene principles.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Using references, discuss the purpose of the following DOE Orders:

b. Discuss the key elements of a Hazards Communication Program and the use of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

c. Define a carcinogen and provide examples of carcinogens.

d. Discuss the key elements of a Carcinogen Control Program including specifically carcinogenic chemicals and asbestos control.

e. Discuss the importance of facility sanitation and housekeeping programs.

f. Discuss the importance and types of equipment used for personnel protection and safety including:

5.6 Using the Department of Energy Hoisting and Rigging Manual, personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the principles of material handling, hoisting, and rigging necessary to identify safe/unsafe work practices.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Describe management's responsibility and accountability with regards to hoisting and rigging.

b. Discuss operating practices for hoisting and rigging operations.

c. Describe good and bad rigging practices.

d. Define critical lifts.

Section 6: CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS

6.1 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the principles of Conduct of Operations and relate these principles to an operational environment.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Referring to a copy of DOE Order 5480.19, Conduct of Operations Requirements for DOE Facilities,(including Attachment 1) locate applicable guidelines and requirements for specific activities.

b. For each of the eighteen chapters in Attachment 1 to the DOE Order 5480.19, explain how each chapter contributes to an effective and safe operational environment.

c. Identify the key elements of assessments, surveillances, and audits, and their application.

d. Describe the self-assessment process.

e. Referring to actual copies of facility Occurrence Reports, discuss how a lack of proper conduct of operations at DOE facilities has led to improper operational results.

f. Referring to a copy of each; DOE Order 4330.4B, Maintenance Management Program, 5000.3B, Occurrence Reporting, and 5700.6C, Quality Assurance, explain how each contributes to a proper conduct of operations environment.

g. Describe the purpose of Safeguards and Security, and the role that it plays with regards to conduct of operations.

h. Discuss proper critique principles and describe a proper critique process, including key elements.

i. Define root cause, and explain its importance to operational safety.

j. Define and describe what Lessons Learned are, and explain their importance to operational safety.

k. Describe Stop Work Authority, and your role in its application.

l. Describe the Cost Plus Award Fee process, and the role that it plays in the management of Department facilities.

m. State the purpose of the Occurrence Reporting system and process.

n. Describe the key elements that determine the safety significance of a condition.

o. Describe the key elements of a Lockout and Tagout system.

Section 7: NUCLEAR SAFETY DOCUMENTS AND EVALUATION

7.1 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of basic nuclear safety documents and nuclear safety evaluation principles, methods and tools.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Identify and describe the types of Hazard Classifications and how they are established/determined.

b. Discuss the purpose and main topics covered by each of the following safety-related documents:

Design Basis Reports
Hazard Categorization and Accident Analysis (DOE-STD-1027)
Safety Analysis Report (DOE Order 5480.23)
Technical Safety Requirements (DOE Order 5480.22)
Unreviewed Safety Questions (DOE Order 5480.21)

c. Identify the situations that constitute an Unreviewed Safety Question.

d. Define the terms hazard and risk.

e. Identify who is responsible for safety at Department-owned facilities.

7.2 Personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of the Department of Energy Directive System.

Supporting Knowledge and Skills

a. Define the following terms:

Policy Statement
Regulation
Order
Notice
Safety/Implementation Guide
Technical Standards
Adopted Standards
DOE Standards
DOE Specifications
DOE Handbooks

b. Describe the hierarchical system of documents used by the Department to establish its nuclear safety policy and the objectives, requirements, and guidance for implementation of that policy.

Section 8: TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS

8.1 Personnel shall demonstrate proficiency in technical communications .

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Demonstrate proficiency in written communication including business and technical writing.

b. Discuss the Department's format requirements for business and technical writing.

c.2 Demonstrate a working knowledge in the principles and process of editing written documents.

d.3 Demonstrate proficiency in oral communications including briefings, one-on-one presentations, and formal presentations.

e.4 Demonstrate a working knowledge in the types, uses, and applications of electronic communications such as computer systems use and local area networks.

f.5 Demonstrate knowledge of interpersonal communications necessary to effectively communicate, verbally and nonverbally, with DOE management, DOE technical personnel, and all levels of contractor personnel.