Writing/editing Have edited or ghost written up to 70 percent of articles published by Radiation Safety Officer and Radiation Protection Management magazines during the last four years.
Web page authoring Authored and Currently maintain web pages for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Boy Scout Troop 158 of Emporia, Kansas and Health Physics Society RSO Section.
Management Currently oversee the radioactive materials licensing and inspection program in accordance with an agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This involves the licensing of over 300 radioactive materials licenses and implementation of the X-ray device registration and inspection program for over 2400 X-ray registrants.
While Wolf Creek's Refuel 8 outage length was doubled, under my management the Health Physics Department remained under budget and the site exposure was the second lowest of any outage.
Negotiated a comprehensive Health Physics Technician contract that would save Wolf Creek approximately one million dollars over the life of the 5-year contract.
Under my leadership my department was able to return $500,000 budgeted dollars in 1995 and 1996 due to innovative processes to manage radioactive waste.
Set long-range goals that would put Wolf Creek in the top quartile of U.S. plants in radiation exposure and radioactive waste performance.
Organization Developed an inspection guide and thumb-rule handbook for use by radioactive material license inspectors that improved efficiency and quality of inspections.
Re-organized instrument calibration lab improving customer service and ensuring adequate instrument availability for the past 8 years.
Assessment Directed a team of Supervisors and Technicians who assessed the condition of the Health Physics Department. This team developed an improvement plan which was recognized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and improved the human performance error rate by seventy percent.
Have directed, performed or been involved with a team performing numerous assessments of all aspects of Health Physics resulting in improved processes and programs
Have performed numerous internal and external dose assessments providing accurate dose assignments.
Training Revitalized the On-The-Job Training program improving the quality of the training as well as documentation.
Worked with the Health Physics Training Supervisor to develop a contract employee training and evaluation program reducing the in-processing time by approximately fifty percent.
Technology Developed Microsoft Access applications to track licensing, registration and inspection of all regulated facilities. These applications also allow inspectors to collect inspection data in the field then upload the data to automatically generate inspection reports and inspection letters sent to the facilities. These applications have been recognized by other states and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
During my tenure as Superintendent implemented an automated access control and remote radiological survey data collection which resulted in reduction of manpower needs as well as exposure reduction and improved record keeping.
Installed and maintained the Health Physics record keeping computer system. This involved extensive customization of a canned software package to meet departmental needs.
Community Service Revitalized Boy Scout Troop 158, increasing membership from 3 active Scouts to 25 active Scouts over a two year period, of these six are currently candidates for the Eagle Scout Award.
WORK HISTORY
Contributing Editor Radiation Protection Management and Radiation Safety Officer magazines published by Radiation Safety Associates
October 1997 to Present
Performed copy editing, substantive editing and ghost writing of up to 70 percent of the articles published using editing guidelines from the Chicago Manual of Style, 13th Edition. These include technical articles on all aspects of radiation protection and health physics. My editing has ranged from minor grammatical and style editing to substantial rewrites of articles. In addition, using data provided by authors I have ghost written articles and worked with the authors to develop a completed product. My editing has included working with authors from other countries who have a limited knowledge of English grammar and style. This has included authors from Bangledesh, Korea, Jordan, Greece as well as the United States.
Unit Chief Xray and Radioactive Materials, Bureau of Air and Radiation, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
October 1997 to Present
I am responsible for the regulation of radioactive materials and radiation producing devices in the State of Kansas. My duties include oversight of the radioactive materials licensing and inspection program in accordance with an agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This involves the licensing of over 300 radioactive materials licenses. I am also responsible for the implementation of the X-ray device registration and inspection program for over 2400 X-ray registrants.
Provide regulatory oversight for the decontamination and decommissioning of a thorium contaminated site consisting of manufacturing, distribution and office buildings in a downtown area of a large metropolitan city. Plans for this site are to decontaminate and remodel it into offices, apartments and shops.
Currently rewriting the Kansas Radiation Protection Regulations to bring them up to date with current standards and practices. This includes technical rewrites as well as ensuring the proposed regulations meet the style guidelines for Kansas regulations.
Superintendent Radiation Protection Wolf Creek Nuclear Oper. Corp.
Jan, 1994 to Aug., 1997
Responsible for all aspects of radiation protection at the Wolf Creek Generating Station. Management of operational health physics, radioactive waste disposal, and oversight of all uses of radioactive material. My duties included the coordination and oversight of activities involving virtually all organizations within the company. I was responsible for developing and maintaining a 4 to 5 million dollar budget and always operated under budget. I held positions of responsibility such as member of the Plant Safety Review Committee responsible for review of all activities which may affect safe shutdown. Chairman of the Site ALARA Committee responsible for ensuring radiation exposures are maintained As Low As Reasonably Achievable. Radiological Assessment Manager on the Emergency Response Organization evaluating offsite radiation exposure during declared emergencies to make protective action recommendations for the public. These responsibilities required working with numerous diverse organizations to maintain the safety of workers. I also interfaced regularly with outside organizations such as regulatory agencies, oversight organizations, vendors and other utilities.
Supervisor Health Physics Support, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation
Mar., 1989 to Jan., 1994
Supervised the operation of a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program accredited dosimetry processing laboratory as well as the health physics instrumentation calibration laboratory. Supervised personnel maintaining radiation exposure records for all personnel exposed to ionizing radiation at Wolf Creek. Also acted as liaison with the Training Department to maintain the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators accredited Health Physics Training Program. Performed internal and external dose assessments of personnel exposed to ionizing radiation. These duties required good communication and people skills to interface with all radiation workers who entered the site as well as working with regulatory agencies to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
Health Physics Technician, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation
1987 to Mar., 1989
Worked in all areas of health physics providing job coverage and coordination for all work groups. Performed routine and complex tasks associated with maintaining the radiological safety of workers. Performed duties as Containment Coordinator during refuel outages. These duties required daily interface and coordination with all levels of every organization working within the plant.
Health Physics Technician, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation
Jan., 1982 to 1987
Primarily responsible for the installation and maintenance of the health physics computer system. Involving activities ranging from installation of hardware, programming and general system maintenance. Trained users in all aspects of the software applications.
Health Physicist, Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
July, 1979 to Jan., 1982
Responsible for the Inspection and Enforcement Section of the radioactive materials licensing division. Required supervision of inspectors in various regions of the state. Supervised inspections against regulations governing the manufacture, use and distribution of naturally occurring and accelerator produced radioactive material. This involved the evaluation of inspection reports, insuring that work assignments and standards were maintained, and providing guidance in problem areas.
Additionally, the review of license applications and preparation of licenses was assigned to maintain the licensing program due to inadequate staffing. Participated in Illinois Department of Transportation programs involving the monitoring of radioactive material shipments throughout the state.
The position required working closely with administrators, radiation safety officers, medical practitioners, and technologists regarding the proper use, handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials.
Designated as the Field Nuclear Data Analyst during radiological emergencies.
This required a self taught mastering of the Nuclear Data ND-6600 computer system for gamma spectroscopy analysis. In addition, I learned the operation of a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP 11/70 computer interfaced with a Canberra series 80 multichannel analyzer.
Technician - Conoco Inc.
May, 1975 - May 1976 and May 1974 - Aug., 1974
Operated x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence analyzers. Assisted in the interpretation of results of uranium field sample analysis. Assisted in the operation of a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP 11/05 computer interfaced with an Ortec multichannel analyzer and x-ray fluorescence analyzer.
EDUCATION
Kansas State University
Graduate work towards Master of Science Nuclear Engineering
Oklahoma State University
Bachelor of Science Radiation & Nuclear Engineering Technology
Northern Oklahoma College
Associate of Science Chemistry
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Health Physicist
American Board of Health Physics
Radiation Protection Technologist
National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists
REFERENCES
Sharyn L. Mathews email
Vice President - Publications and Marketing
Radiation Safety Associates Publications
email: [email protected]
William E. Potter
Author
email: [email protected]