Approval of the Operator Qualification Program

DOE-STD-1040-93

document, the person with this responsibility will be referred to as the training

coordinator. For facilities using a rotating shift or multiple-shift crews, this

responsibility may be delegated to one training coordinator per shift. Using one

person per shift should increase training efficiency because training can be

rescheduled as necessary to take advantage of operating situations (e.g., unusual

or infrequent activities) that might arise during a shift.

4.1.3

Approval of the Operator Qualification Program

The operator qualification program should be approved by the operations

supervisor and the training manager (TM) to ensure that both operational needs

and training requirements are satisfied. Changes to the program should be

coordinated with the Training Department.

4.2

Instructor Qualification

To ensure that training is effectively performed in the operating environment, on-

shift training should be conducted by specially selected, qualified operators. The

selection should be based on items such as communication skills, technical

knowledge, and the ability to impart trainees with hands-on experience. This may

require that the operator has received and successfully completed on-shift instructor

training. At a minimum, special instructor techniques should be covered that are

designed to prevent misoperation or damage to equipment (e.g., where to place

hands to prevent inadvertent breaker, switch, or valve operation). Training

Department personnel may conduct on-shift training as long as they remain current

in their operator qualifications. The requirements for maintaining operator

proficiency should be specified in facility procedures.

Potential instructors should complete an instructor internship prior to conducting

training in the operating environment. This allows the candidate to acquire

supervised practical training similar to mentoring. An instructor internship is

designed to verify and strengthen the instructor candidate's instructional abilities

within the operating environment. It also gives a candidate's supervisor the

opportunity to monitor and evaluate the candidate's instructional and technical

competency in a specific training setting.

A qualified instructor should train the instructor candidate on the facility's on-shift

training requirements. To ensure consistency in training, items to be performed

should be outlined on a qualification card. When the qualified instructor is satisfied

that the instructor candidate has demonstrated adequate instructional skills, the

qualified instructor should sign the qualification card and recommend the individual

for a final evaluation.