losing unescorted access how hard to get back

[davioh]

Hi, I will try to make my story very concise and to the point as possible for a complex career problem:
I. I was working as an intern at a nuke plant going to college for an associates NUET degree.
II. I had some medical problems due to being hit by a drunk driver that were interfering in my efforts to do the required classes.
III. This situation became known by accessing and they pulled my unescorted access / due to being deemed medically unfit for unescorted access ..using conservative decision making by the plant medical director.
IV. I obviously lost my job and dropped out of the associates program as its real hard to get motivated over something you can't qualify for anymore.  I picked up an $8 customer svc. job to replace the Nuke Job....not exactly the same pay range......
    All this happened a few years ago in 2006...so my specific questions:
1A. how hard is it to get a nuclear job once you have had your unescorted access pulled (either in-house or contractor)?
1B. how much harder is it to get a job without a related degree (I imagine even a lowly associates degree helps)?
2. how much harder is it to get unescorted access once you've had it pulled?
3. how does having one's access pulled impact one's career path in this industry? Although its not a 100% career end...I would think it would be a black eye that would haunt career efforts.  Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[davioh]

PS, a follow up I just though of...is there any chance I could get a job in a related field such as nuclear pharmacy tech??? Any other alternate career paths outside of nuclear plants anyone here is aware of???  Anyone know how well the alternatives pay? thanks in advance.

[gravy58]

I have known a few people who have gotten their access back. Each plant has different rules. Most want to see that you went back to work at another facility before they will take a chance on you. Alot of techs would go to Common Wealth Edison, they have alot of units and are always in need of people, so their not as pickey. Other techs have gone D.O.E. even though Commercial plants don't recognize D.O.E. time as credit towards your ANSI they do acknowledge the fact that you have been working for the government. Also the southern plants like Duke arnt to hard to get in to they are always in need of people too. This is because the pay is lower for doing the same job anywhere else in the country. Anyways keep appling any and every place you can, someone will let you back in. Good Luck!!

[davioh]

ok, what if I'm not really in a position to move away out of state? Any other options/ opinions?

[Motown homey]

Have you tried to get back into the plant?  I have never heard of anyone having a problem getting back in once their medical condition was resolved.  It's different for people that lose their access due to disciplinary or substance abuse problems.

[SloGlo]

1A. how hard is it to get a nuclear job once you have had your unescorted access pulled (either in-house or contractor)?
1B. how much harder is it to get a job without a related degree (I imagine even a lowly associates degree helps)?
2. how much harder is it to get unescorted access once you've had it pulled?
3. how does having one's access pulled impact one's career path in this industry? Although its not a 100% career end...I would think it would be a black eye that would haunt career efforts.  Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

1a. it ain't hard, but it depends on why yer clearance was pulled.   if it wuzant a fitness for duty thing, there shood not be a problem.
1b. depends on da job 'n wage desired.  degrees help with in house positions, may help for contractual positions however experience .        megacounts for contractors. 
2. agin, it depends on why the original clearance was pulled.
3. see answer 2.

[davioh]

1a. it ain't hard, but it depends on why yer clearance was pulled.   if it wuzant a fitness for duty thing, there shood not be a problem.

on the original post I mention that I was deemed medically unfit for duty.  I probably still would be at this point. I would think this would kind of be a show stopper for this career path...am I wrong???

[grantime]

I think SloGlo's point is correct.  It depends on why it was pulled.  If it wasn't FFD then can whatever the cause is can be controlled or corrected? If it can't and you still are medically unfit for duty then you may have problems. 

[matthew.b]

davioh:  I understand you not saying exactly why you can't get access.  This is a public forum with who knows who is here and medical issues are personal.  So don't take this as digging for personal information, rather, I'll try and answer for different scenarios and you pick the right information. 

The big question is whether it's fitness for duty or not.  It's a lot tougher to get back in if it is FFD.  Even then it depends on what the FFD violation is.  If you had a valid medical condition, you were using medication you were prescribed, and you were honest with the medical officer about how much you are using, then that isn't that bad of a strike.  People do understand that after major injuries, it is hard to deal with life without some level of pain medication.  The question is if you can get clear of narcotics enough to convince a medical officer if you're OK.

Not being honest about usage amounts is a fairly big strike.  Using something you don't have a prescription for is a BIG BIG strike. 

On the other hand, if your talking about inability to pass a company physical:  Find out who's authorized for company physicals.  Make an appointment and ask the doctor to be openly honest about what it takes to pass.  He may tell you forget it, or he may tell you that you need to do XYZ.

[davioh]

   Ok perhaps I was TOO concise and lacking detail in my first post: My medical problems persist to this day. I just found out today I have a herneated disk in my upper spinal column that will probably require another surgery. I've already been through 4 surgeries..
Issue 1. not able to keep up with classes due to medical problems, a requirement for job.
Issue 2. not able to lift more than about 25 pounds without pain - making me a heck of a lot less useful for the decon dept.
Issue 3. THIS IS THE IMPORTANT ONE...where the Fitness for duty comes into play.  I was being treated for some issues - I had gained about 25 pounds in a month, chronic back pain etc.
      I thought I was being helpful by forwarding on that I went through their EAP program to human resources to explain why I didn't complete the classes.  INSTEAD. it got forwarded to accessing, they had me take another MMPI, had me get with my medical DR. etc. Despite my Dr. saying I was ok and fit for duty -The Medical Director said I wasn't being sufficiently treated for my problems (a lapse of filling a prescription for one moth on my part) - and was therefore not fit for duty. 
    2 points #1. I didn't even have insurance and was paying for all this stuff out of my own pocket.  Its no excuse but it is difficult affording all this stuff without insurance.  Companies don't give insurance to interns.
#2. I have never worked a job like this before.  I guess I should have better realized this isn't like a grocery store or something...they really have a lot more oversight on a person's life.  It honestly never occurred to me that I would have this kind of problem.
     PS I'd especially like to hear back from anyone who's had prior access problems...also from those that went into alternate careers...at the rate I'm going I think I'm up against way too much to try to go back into this career.   

[davioh]

WELL, I'm not getting many replies which leads me to believe...the chances of me getting another job with access...its like "lottery odds"...

[matthew.b]

Nope, I never had a problem.  I know people who did.  I wouldn't characterize it as bad as lottery odds.

There are two parts, one is fitness for duty.

The other reality is that your physical capabilities will have to match the job.

[grantime]

if this is something that you want to do.. Go for it.  Be honest and straightforward on your application and see what happens.