Methods

DOE-HDBK-1118-99

3. METHODS

3.1 Skills training

All personnel should demonstrate competency in selected operations and maintenance

activities during on-the-job training, laboratory exercises, simulator sessions, facility walk-

throughs, or paperwork walk-throughs as part of the continuing training program. Tracking

participation in normal, abnormal, and emergency evolutions may be used to help determine

what should be practiced. This should be part of both the fixed and the flexible components of

the continuing training program.

To maintain operational and maintenance skills, personnel should practice operations with the

first-line supervisor aggressively leading the exercises. Sufficient time should be allocated for

skills-training exercises to be repeated until weaknesses are corrected and competency is

demonstrated. Some hands-on practice with the equipment and with operations is also

needed by first-line supervisors to maintain familiarity with the operations and maintenance of

the facility and give them an appreciation of the complexity of some evolutions.

Each facility should use its facility-specific task list, activities/competencies, industry and in-

house operating experience, and other forms of feedback to develop its own list of evolutions

to be included in the continuing training program. This list should identify the frequency within

the one- or two-year cycle at which each evolution is to be covered. Some of these evolutions

may need to be covered only once while others may require periodic coverage within the two-

year cycle. Certified operations personnel require annual training and examinations on

abnormal facility procedures and emergencies.

This list should be based on analysis data, and performance feedback from individuals and

teams during facility operations, simulator evaluations, and facility walk-throughs and drill

evaluations. Additionally, line and training managers may elect to adjust the frequency within

the two-year cycle at which specific tasks are covered in training based on the performance in

the facility. If performance trends indicate that individual or team performance of a task is

declining, that task should be covered in training more frequently. Conversely, if performance

trends do not indicate a performance problem is associated with certain tasks, the line and

training managers may decide to cover those tasks in training less frequently (e.g., less than

once every two years).