The 3-Day Training Program for Nuclear Criticality Safety is intensive, consisting of lectures and laboratory sessions, including active student participation in actual critical experiments, a visit to a plutonium processing facility, and in-depth discussions on safety philosophy and the proper alignment of criticality safety risks with worksite risks.

Course Schedule
These courses are scheduled at the rate of about one every other month. This can be increased or decreased depending on demand.  Class size is limited to 15, and classes with fewer than 10 registrants 20 days prior to the start date will be cancelled.

Course Schedule and Registration

• Introduction
  • Safety Philosophy - Fundamentals of Safety
  • Radiation Safety versus Criticality Safety
  • Risk in Perspective
• Basic Concepts and Nomenclature
  • Atoms and Neutrons, Sizes and Masses
  • Neutron Cross Sections
  • Fission Processes
  • Prompt and Delayed Neutrons
• Idealized and Real Fissioning Systems
  • Neutron Slowing Down
  • Neutron Life Cycle
  • Multiplication Factor
  • Metal versus Solution Systems
• Time Behavior of Fissioning Systems
  • Delayed Neutron Effefcts
  • Prompt and Delayed Neutrons
  • Reactor Period

• Control Room and Kiva Operation
• Operating Procedures and Limits for Critical Assemblies
• Hand-Stacking Experiment Part I, to Multiplication ~ 10

• Safety Philosophy
  • Written Procedures and Training
  • Policy and Responsibility
• Minimum Critical Masses
• Factors that Influence Criticality and Practical Criticality Control
  • Slab, Annular, and Poisoned Tanks
  • Limited-Volume Dissolvers
  • Solution Storage in Six-Inch Tanks
  • Moderation Control - Dry Oxide Processing
  • Concentration Control
  • Mass Limits
  • Reflection
  • Density Effects
  • Enrichment - Slightly Enriched Uranium

• Hand-Stacking Experiment Part II, to Multiplication ~ 100
• Critical Assembly Operations at Delayed Critical and on Positive Periods
• Computer Codes for Criticality Safety Analyses

• Safety Philosophy
  • Communication and Enlightened Challenge
  • Striving for the Possible
• Administrative Practices
  • Department of Energy Orders
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Alarm Dosimetry
  • National Concensus Standards
• Documentation - References
  • Transportation Considerations - Determining the Transport Index

• Tour of Plutonium Processing Facility (Q-clearances only)
• Accident and Incident Experience Case Descriptions - Lessons Learned