B.1.1 Introduction
For purposes of this example, it is assumed that the secretarial staff have all the required secretarial skills, but are not trained in the radiation safety requirements of their work.
B.1.2 Step One: Job Task Analysis
The secretarial staff ’s responsibility from a radiation safety standpoint might be identified in our example as “observing a pro- hibition against entering controlled areas, namely x-ray rooms and/or radionuclide preparation and administration areas.”
With the task established, the supervisor can now prepare a standard of performance that describes its successful accomplish- ment. In this example, it is necessary “to recognize the caution sign
B. EXAMPLES OF THE TRAINING METHOD / 29 for controlled areas and not to enter such an area under normal operating conditions.”
With this standard of performance, the supervisor can identify the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to accomplish the task. In this example, these attributes are simply the ability to read and recognize the sign, to understand the significance of not enter- ing the area, to identify normal conditions, and to know the proce- dure if entrance to the area is necessary.
In addition, the secretarial staff should understand the hazards and risks that exist in controlled areas and that the areas normally occupied are safe. These skills, knowledge and attitudes become the basis for determining the content of an instructional method for training.
B.1.3 Step Two: Training Design and Development
Even in a small facility, there can exist a variety of instructional options. In this example, the medical facility can easily provide a slide or tape program using in-house slides of signs and procedures.
Although a special instructor might be engaged to train the secre- tarial staff on an occasional basis, the training might better be per- formed by the medical staff. In either case, the individual performing the training should have knowledge of the job task analysis (Step One) and maintain consistency with the training objectives. In the example, the training objective can be stated as follows: At the completion of this instructional period, the trainee should be able to identify quickly the standard controlled-area warning signs used at this facility and to distinguish them from other standard warning signs.
The next step within the training analysis is to establish the testing criteria which will determine whether the training objec- tive has been accomplished successfully. In this example, proper recognition of warning signs may be all that is needed.
The final step in the training analysis is to develop the neces- sary course structure to accomplish the desired training. In this example, the following two conditions are assumed:
• The supervisors of the secretarial staff will conduct the training since professional trainers would not normally be needed.
• The training materials are in the form of printed loose-leaf binders with full-color photographs of signs and areas.
30 / APPENDIX B
The supervisor instructs the staff members on the meaning of each warning sign, encourages review of training materials both pre- and post-test, and provides periodic reinforcement.
A summary analysis of the course structure might be as shown in Table B.1.
B.1.4 Step Three: Lesson Plan and Training Materials
Training materials to support this training effort might consist of photographs, typed pages, binders, pre- and post-tests, and radi- ation survey data. The training materials could be prepared by the supervisor or by training consultants.
A lesson plan could be as follows:
B.1.5 Step Four: Evaluation Plan
The evaluation plan for this training program consists of testing the trainee both before and after instruction to determine knowl- edge of signs and actions. The supervisor will reinforce proper actions in the work area after the participants have observed initial demonstrations.
Lesson Plan Outline
Instructional Subject: The safety of your office.
Instructor: — — —
Instructional Goal: The trainee will be capable of quickly iden- tifying warning signs that restrict entrance into controlled areas.
Training Objectives: Upon completion of this instructional period, the trainee will be able to accom- plish the following:
• identify the standard warning signs used at this facility
• perform proper action by not entering areas designated by the standard signs
• accept the fact that his or her working area is safe
Training Support Material:
List all materials and equipment neces- sary for the training effort.
B. EXAMPLES OF THE TRAINING METHOD / 31 TABLE B.1—Summary analysis of training course structure.
Training Element Reference Instructional Methods Training
Materials Location Estimated Time (minutes) Capability of recogniz-
ing and reading signs
Pre-test Self-directed Pre-test binder Work area 10
Safety of occupied area RPMa Demonstration Survey meter and reports
Work area 5
Emergency contacts RPM Instruction Pre-test binder Work area 10
Understanding of the hazards and risk in controlled area
RPM Demonstration Survey meter
and reports
Work area 5
Identification of facility
Standard Instruction Pre-test binder Work area 10
Reinforcement Post-test Self-directed Post-test binder Work area 10
aRPM = radiation protection manual.
32 / APPENDIX B
Evaluation can also take place through review of radiation expo- sure data, job performance, and reports of violations during the safety inspection.
B.1.6 Step Five: Instruction
The fifth step is the training itself. The critical factor is the training ability of the instructor or the quality of the prepared program.
B.1.7 Step Six: Evaluation and Feedback
Evaluation and feedback in this example consist of reviewing any changes in work requirements and evaluating the performance on the job.
Typical questions that would accomplish this step could include:
• Have controlled area signs remained the same?
• Have the work needs of the secretaries changed the entrance requirements into controlled areas?
• Have supervisors conducted the training to desired standards?
• Is the instructional method appropriate?
• Does trainee feedback indicate confidence that the work area is safe?
• Are there recurring experiences of unauthorized access to controlled areas by trained support staff?