Session One: Navigating Through the Radiation Safety Regulatory Process
Course Description
Multi-day training course provides an overview of Nuclear Regulatory Commission structure and operations, hierarchy of regulatory requirements and guidance, specific regulations and guidance documents as they pertain to Radiation Protection, and an in-depth review of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). The course concludes with a hands-on exercise navigating through the Significance Determination Process (SDP) using actual nuclear power plant operational experience. There are no pre-requisites or prior experience necessary to enroll in this course.
Key Features
- Understanding NRC’s various roles in the regulatory process;
- Review of the NRC’s hierarchy of documents, how to access them and how they apply to radiation safety;
- Understanding licensing basis, Tech Specs and NRC commitments;
- NRC radiation safety regulations and guidance;
- NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process (ROP), including regional NRC inspections, NRC performance indicators and issue screening using the
- Significance Determination Process (SP) specific to radiation safety; and
- By using actual industry OE, participants will apply several Radiation Protection issues through the SDP process.
Session Two: INPO/Wano
Course Description
Additional one-day session on INPO / Wano performance monitoring and assessment, and staff and department performance improvement strategies.
3-Week Mentoring (Optional)
Our mentorship involves working with the RP Manager (or staff) to provide guidance, support, and advice based on instructor’s experiences. We help individuals navigate complex situations, develop new skills, and build their professional networks. Specific focus is on the RPM’s role as a member of the station’s senior leadership team (SLT) and the role as the on-site occupational and public radiation safety specialist. Our mentorship program is more focused on long-term career development and building relationships.
Immediate coaching and feedback is provided, and focused on short-term station and department goals and specific skill development. We help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and develop strategies to overcome gaps and obstacles.
Some licensees use this mentoring time to work with staff on NRC Inspection preps, on-site NRC inspection assist visits during NRC inspections, and / or outage readiness risk assessment reviews.
Instructor Bio
Martin Phalen is an advanced degree professional with over 45 years of PWR/BWR experience in progressive positions from radiation protection/chemistry technician to radiation protection manager. Mr.Phalen contributed to the successful turnaround of four separate radiation protection (RP) programs with significant cultural challenges; as assessed by internal and external auditors, and industry regulators. His work experience includes multiple assignments at plants that were struggling with “chilled work environments” and chronic and/or cyclical radiation safety performance issues.
Mr.Phalen’s additional experience includes 12 years as an NRC Senior Health Physicist, inspecting occupational and public radiation safety programs at commercial nuclear power plants. His experience includes substantial work in allegation investigation and special and supplemental inspections. Additional NRC experience includes assignments in the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and in the Resident Inspector program.