Meter Reading Training

[OldHP]

My Goodness...... lookie at what we are doing... we seem to all be saying the same thing.......  (SloGlo ness)   iffen youz canna reed da meter....then donna applyfor da job
[/quote]

I've been reading this thread since it began, with wonder.  How can anyone say they can do the job if they can't use the "tools of the trade".  When I was on the plant side of the business I used a "test" that didn't focus on theory, but on practical ability.  From a practical standpoint I really don't care if "tech A" can calculate the proper amount of shielding to reduce the dose rate by a factor of X.  That is not the function of the field tech, that is the function of the Staff HP or RE.  I do care if "tech A" can  can produce the needed data "AQARA" (and maybe 15 sec looking at a video image is not "AQARA"), and I do prefer rounding up.
Kudos to Bartlett for trying to meet an imediate need when it appears "the test in question" was faulted in that it required (for the correct answer) interpolation on a linear and/or log scale.
For those of you that have the opportunity to work with LaFeet, take him up on his offer.  If you want to learn the basics, he'll teach you - If you want to learn the theory behind the basics, he'll educate you - sorry no college credits!

[RAD-GHOST]

I agree with OldHP, I normally round up. 

After all, the degree of accuracy usually brings an equivalent degree of scrutiny!

Have A Great One, RG!

[Tech A]

Im not saying the same thing as everyone else.  Im not giving kudos to Bartlett for keeping the same veteran techs who cant read a meter. Im not faulting the techs who fail the test, Im faulting the company that keeps hiring these techs.  I think its an injustice to the rest of the techs that Bartlett keeps on hiring the "breathable" techs who cant pass a simple test.   If someone said before the test at whoops there are going to be 10 senior techs with over 10 years experience that are going to fail it most everyone would of guessed 8 of the techs that would of failed it before the test was taken.   Im sure the test is part of the "great" Bartlett evaluation.  But we know how important those evals are to the recruiters trying to fill spots.   Do ya think the recruiters really care?

[Industry Event]

Here is some simple meter reading training.

If everything is reading 4.5-5 mrem/hr you are probably on the BATT scale.

If background seems to be zero wherever you go you are probably on the OFF scale.

Just pay attention to the scales and you will be alright

[RadBastard]

Oh my God, All these people who failed this and are 10+yr seniors and  defend their actions,Is like saying they arn't the smartest person in a room full of people with down syndrome. Sorry im not PC on this.

They should be knocked down to the lowest pay scale of a janitor.No offense to janitor's.

How do these people still get job's and then complain that their on the 1st layoff,because their such good techs.

Also all the people who thank bartlett for this test can stop sucking up now!
They might be the one's who failed the test.If you know how to use a meter there is no reason to thank anyone.

These are the tools of your trade come on,Hello MCFLY ANYBODY HOME!

Im sure this will get deleted,but I hope not.

[OldHP]

Here is some simple meter reading training.

If everything is reading 4.5-5 mrem/hr you are probably on the BATT scale.

If background seems to be zero wherever you go you are probably on the OFF scale.

Just pay attention to the scales and you will be alright

Just maybe some have a problem with multiplying by 1, 2, 5, or 10?

[Marlin]

I'm a little disheartened by the title of this thread. I thought that fundamentally a Rad Tech evaluated radiological hazard and the meter was a tool like a hammer or saw to do this. As the goal of a carpenter is to build a house a Rad Tech evaluates and communicates radiological hazard, knowing your tools is what you learn as an apprentice. I know I'm stepping on toes but I have heard jrs told by their supposed seniors that they should just take a smear where ever they took a dose rate reading and that was all there was to it. I have found that a good technician is one who is conscientious. As a contractor with no formal training available, for the most part, I have seen many very good deconners become very good seniors because they put an effort into learning their trade and I have seen those deconners who have just done their time ( a control point makes a lousy base of experience).

"That's just my opinion I could be wrong" DM

Marlin

[gammaman30]

Oh my God, All these people who failed this and are 10+yr seniors and  defend their actions,Is like saying their the smartest person in a room full of people with down syndrome. Sorry im not PC on this.

They should be knocked down to the lowest pay scale of a janitor.No offense to janitor's.

How do these people still get job's and then complain that their on the 1st layoff,because their such good techs.

Also all the people who thank bartlett for this test can stop sucking up now!
They might be the one's who failed the test.If you know how to use a meter there is no reason to thank anyone.

These are the tools of your trade come on,Hello MCFLY ANYBODY HOME!

Im sure this will get deleted,but I hope not.

So you want to give them a raise? The janitor make more than the HP Techs here at columbia!

[LaFeet]

Oh my God, All these people who failed this and are 10+yr seniors and  defend their actions,Is like saying their the smartest person in a room full of people with down syndrome. Sorry im not PC on this.

They should be knocked down to the lowest pay scale of a janitor.No offense to janitor's.

How do these people still get job's and then complain that their on the 1st layoff,because their such good techs.

Also all the people who thank bartlett for this test can stop sucking up now!
They might be the one's who failed the test.If you know how to use a meter there is no reason to thank anyone.

These are the tools of your trade come on,Hello MCFLY ANYBODY HOME!

Im sure this will get deleted,but I hope not.

I have to agree with you ROMO.... I hope I can count myself as one of the ones you can trust to read (and act correctly to) a meter.

[hamsamich]

I think testing is good, but all I am saying is I don't know what this particular test is and if it is fair or not, therefore i won't be throwing any stones until I see it for myself.  It seems quite a few people are getting on here and doing that without seeing the test for themselves. And for marlin's post, there are going to be bad technicians in ANY field, that's just a given, although I wish this weren't the case.  The training/testing is supposed to weed these people out. For an interesting perspective on this (licensing/gatekeeping in general), see February issue of scientific american - page 28 "license to work".  Among interesting points:

-The Supreme Court gave the states the power to license in 1889.
-Today there are 800 occupations that require a license in one or more states, but only 50 occupations are licensed in ALL states.
-A study done from 1960 to 1987 found that increased licensing restrictions by state dentistry boards did NOT lead to improved dental care, but it did boost income for dentists.
-California has the highest percentage of lic. prof. at 30% while mississippi lic. only 6% of workers.
-historical statistics in general point to licensing being effective as a tool and not usually a gatekeeper (inhibiting job entry unfairly), this is good!

see the article for other interesting points and graphs.

[RadBastard]

Hey HAM,I was told they show you slides of an ro2,Teletector,and a ro2a.Then they show you what scale it is on and the meter reading.
Then you put down what it reads.
Thats sorry if thats the case.
If I was told this incorrectly please correct me,MY BAD IF IM WRONG.


I mean there are some SR HP'S out there who i've seen couldn't get a job as a spell checker in an M & M FACTORY ,and still seem to get jobs

[Chimera]

I went to the Bartlett site and looked at the PowerPoint example they have.  Depending on how the test choices are given, everyone should pass this test.  I added that qualifier since I read the scale different by one unit in three of the examples (parallax error?).

How serious is this problem in the industry?  Are there really people who consistently can't read a meter?  I'll allow for the occasional misreading (i.e., wrong scale, lack of light, in a hurry) or perceived "rounding errors" (as long as it's not a shipping survey).  I just find it hard to believe that Techs (whether Junior or Senior) don't have a clue when it comes to reading a meter and/or are too stupid to ask for help when confronted by an unfamiliar instrument.

[alphadude]

not to mention the 10% fudge factor allow during calibration-- geotropism has arisen again -YIKES

[SloGlo]

I think testing is good, but all I am saying is I don't know what this particular test is and if it is fair or not, therefore i won't be throwing any stones until I see it for myself. 

go to the site, take the test, bend over, pick up stones, pick one, and throw. 

[IPREGEN]

Did the test involve documenting the readings in something besides a g@#*$m logbook?

[stownsend]

Don't take this as defending anyone, as I'm not. I also don't work for Big Blue. Let's put another spin on this. Don't take the test at your computer but put it up on the screen thirty feet away. The only time I ever heard anyone reading a ro20( ro2A at the time) from thirty feet was Art Stockwell's oral board in the cavity using a pair of binoculars.

OUCH stop throwing stone's at me.It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it until I see the actual test myself. Then I'll throw stone's with the rest of you.

[Tech A]

Now I know why IM an HP its because all those years in school I couldnt figure out all those slide shows in school.  I wish I had all these excuses when I was in elementary school.   We all could of been doctors if it wasnt for those tricky slides and overhead projections.

[RDTroja]

Don't take the test at your computer but put it up on the screen thirty feet away.

I did that for my class of junior techs... they all passed without any problems. IMHO there is no excuse for having trouble with this test. Then again, I went to school when there were actual consequences for not passing. Maybe if I had been in the 'don't fail anyone it might bruise their tender ego' era I might think differently... but I hope not.

[Turbo]

All right I have only been in this business a year and a half and I am only a lowly junior hp, and so if I can pass this test anyone should be able to.  Trying to be fair, when I was given the test if the answer was 1.8 and I said 1.9, I was given credit because some of those meters were at an angle.  So if people are not getting credit for being close to the correct answer then that is the flaw of the test administrator.  However take away the ones that I was not dead on and I still would've gotten an 80% which is passing most places you go.  So for those of you that have been in the business for ten+ years, call yourself a senior hp, and really cannot read a meter....... well lets just say i aint gonna take my car to a mechanic that don't know how to turn a wrench.

P.S. There were a couple meters on that test I had never seen before.

[stownsend]

I have no idea who or who didn't pass, I just wanted to look at all possibilities of why before making a judgement. As someone said you may be surprised who failed. My thoughts were "why". IMHO there have been techs in this field who should not have been there to start with. We've all seen the one's who could ace any test but you could only put him at the RBA to frisk tools and watch the PCM's,same pay as all of the rest of us. Then again It's not up to me, it's up to the utilities to decide. In their defense though I've seen where the names had to be removed from the resumes because of the litigious world we live in. Someone didn't get in to the outage and they write home "send lawyers, money and guns".

[PWHoppe]

well, i won't be passing any judgements until I take it myself

I too feel as Ham does on this topic. That said if the test is anything like the Bartlett power point I cannot understand how anyone could fail this.

[SloGlo]

I have no idea who or who didn't pass, I just wanted to look at all possibilities of why before making a judgement.

yeah, like when eye yam ona rode wit sumbuddy woo kant drive, i look at alla possibilities two.... like ware i kin pass 'n leaf 'em ina dust.  unfortunately, eye kan't due dat wit non-meter reeding seenures now kin i?

[RadBastard]

I think they should all get on the short bus and drive to the unemployment office to ask for some job training in another field.

In the words of carlos mencia they must be a bunch of DEE DEE DEE'S

It's stinking meter for god sake,it's your tool of your trade,come on

What's next the disk smear test or the prober way to take an LAS with a masselin mop.

we a going to hell in a hand basket!

[LaFeet]

I think they should all get on the short bus and drive to the unemployment office to ask for some job training in another field.

In the words of carlos mencia they must be a bunch of DEE DEE DEE'S

I a stinking meter for god sake,it's your tool of your trade,come on

What's next the disk smear test or the prober way to take an LAS with a masselin mop.

we a going to hell in a hand basket!

Naw  we survived Calvert during the first Thimble job... everything else is gravy from here on out

[stownsend]

Sitting in training at 2 oclock in the morning with 50 senior HP's and Roger Knight signing off our JPM's.Thirty days of training prior to an outage. "If everyone knows what full pc's are put a check in the yes box, if you don't know what full pc's are put a check in the no box". This went on for an hour. Let's bring back Beaver Valley training and Roger to train us.  NOT. Then we can  have Bartlett send us home on Dec 23 and bring us back on Jan 2 so they don't have to pay us holiday pay.Some one stated to test us on job performance.I quess they never took an oral board.

[hamsamich]

agree with p-dub

[illegalsmile]

But next time I will be working for The Rock! for 45 and 100 +benefits .

so what contracts does Rock have? It sounds great, but I don't see anyone paying that much to get techs to a job.

[Asa1]

We (the house techs at Palisades) just had to take the "test" during our most recent continuing training cycle. All I've got to say is WOW.

[TENN-1]

You mean "Wow" x (0.1) or "Wow" x (10)?

[Asa1]

Off scale high.