Denied UA, visitor access question

[NukeEng]

I was an engineer at a plant for a number of years, then left in good standing for another job.  Recently went back to work outage support as a contractor.  Met with friends in town I hadn't seen for a long time, drank too much, felt that I was just fine for badging the next morning but was sorely mistaken.  Didn't touch the hard stuff or stay up too late, but I guess age has taken a toll on my metabolism.  Bairly failed breathalizer the next morning and was denied access. 

I've been offered a position with a potential for having to visit a plant in the future.  It would be infrequent, if ever, but I know I should disclose this to the employer.  I was the escort many many times for visitors but I can't remember if the "Have you been denied access" question shows up on the escorted access forms.  Can anyone with access experience please fill me in.  Is this question on the escorted access sheet?  If so should I expect significant hurdles to getting in?  I would like to have the whole story on my situation before I discuss with my current employer.

Please save any scolding remarks regarding my poor decision.  I knew the rules, thought I was being safe enough, screwed up big time.  I'm going to rehab in hopes that I can someday regain UA, but in the mean time could use some advice.  Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Higgs]

Your best bet is pming a user named Graphic, or he will be around here to answer your questions soon. Good luck.

[Fermi2]

Yes it's on the form.

[btkeele]

I ran into this myself this spring with an employee... you will not be allowed in as a visitor, etc. if you have been denied unescorted access and do not have it cleared up.  I don't know how you go about getting it fixed if you
are not an employee, but, the plant's security people should be able to
give you that info.

[Graphic]

I was an engineer at a plant for a number of years, then left in good standing for another job.  Recently went back to work outage support as a contractor.  Met with friends in town I hadn't seen for a long time, drank too much, felt that I was just fine for badging the next morning but was sorely mistaken.  Didn't touch the hard stuff or stay up too late, but I guess age has taken a toll on my metabolism.  Bairly failed breathalizer the next morning and was denied access. 

I've been offered a position with a potential for having to visit a plant in the future.  It would be infrequent, if ever, but I know I should disclose this to the employer.  I was the escort many many times for visitors but I can't remember if the "Have you been denied access" question shows up on the escorted access forms.  Can anyone with access experience please fill me in.  Is this question on the escorted access sheet?  If so should I expect significant hurdles to getting in?  I would like to have the whole story on my situation before I discuss with my current employer.

Please save any scolding remarks regarding my poor decision.  I knew the rules, thought I was being safe enough, screwed up big time.  I'm going to rehab in hopes that I can someday regain UA, but in the mean time could use some advice.  Thanks in advance for any advice.

Well you will have some hurdles but you aren't banned from a plant forever for failing a breathalyzer. The main thing is how long ago was it? You should have gotten a letter when they pulled your badge telling you how long you were denied access for? Procedures changed and penalties got a little longer.

Yes you will have to list it on the PHQ you fill out when you try to gain access.

If it was within the past 5 years you will have to provide a 5 year work history. You'll have an interview with a psych either way in your situation as well. They will want to see that you had some type of rehab.. if not they will probably recommend you have rehab before they give you access.

To sum it up.. you will have some hurdles. You will be able to gain access again but you will just have to go through those few hurdles to get it. As someone else said you can't even go to the plant as a visitor now in your position so I would definitely get it straightened away.

Goodluck

[btkeele]

You are correct, but, the person filling out the request for the visitor access has to indicate whether the visitor has ever been denied unescorted access.
Security will check on this and if they have been, they will not be allowed in the PA as a visitor.

[Graphic]

I do not think the OP was asking about reapplying for UA with the associated PHQ, 5-year work history, psychological evaluation, etc, etc, etc.  He is being considered for a position that may require him to visit a site from time to time as a Visitor.  I do not recall any Visitor having to complete a PHQ or undergo a psychological evaluation.

Thanks for your comprehension.



For the original poster.. you do need to list this information and tell your employer. Any visitor to a nuke plant is checked in PADS and the system to make sure they aren't currently in a denial state. A lot of plants are really weeding out visitors as much as possible. I can't count how many times over the past 5-6 months I have had to do clearances for a President or Vice President of contracting companies because they want to come in for a couple days to check out a few things. They find that it is way easier for them to be badged and actually prefer it. The reason being is that with the new security mods/PA expansions that are required by the NRC at so many sites, it isn't just a cakewalk to get a visitor to come in and go to the areas he or she may need to.

For example.. some sites issue a temporary badge that is good for 5 days and if you don't have your full clearance after those 5 days then your badge is pulled. There are still some sites who issue 'yellow badges' to people which essentially is work outside of the protected area. However, with the new procedures that is getting weeded out.

So I just wanted to give you a little more detail than yes or no. You will have some hurdles to go through if you ever need to come in and have access to certain areas for a prolonged period of time. I mean if you are just coming in to visit with the plant manager you probably won't need to worry about a badge obviously. However, if you are a contractor in the sense that I'm thinking and you will need to go into the field then you will need to have clearance. Plants just don't let people come in as visitors for 20 days in a row anymore you know? (I guess maybe I'm just not 100% clear as to how much you would have to go to a plant. But I'm picturing to myself a project manager or something to that effect who has to be on the site in the protected areas to have things completed)

As long as you aren't currently denied in PADS at a plant then you will be fine. I mean if you were denied 10 years ago and it was only a 3 year denial obviously you will have no problems really getting a visitors badge. However, if you are trying to gain FULL clearance then you will need to be prepared for some extra work.

Thanks and good luck let me know if you have anymore questions.

[IPREGEN]

If you want to get past the "have you ever been denied access?" question you should consider going to and completing a rehab course followed up by some time on the calendar to get it behind you. You may believe that it is too much to do, but the answer to "have you ever been?" is yes and the fact that it's for alcohol, the next question may be, "what did you do about it?"