GLENVIEW, IL — The Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA) board of directors has announced plans to develop a nationally accepted skill standards program to provide consistency in training across the country for industrial refrigeration operators. According to the association, once the progress is complete, it will provide many benefits for industrial refrigeration operators and the industry.

“This program was developed in direct response to the concerns we were hearing from our members across the country,” said Jeff Nank, chair of the project to create the standards. “RETA, as the voice of the industrial refrigeration operator, is taking the lead in developing and implementing national skill standards that will provide a well defined career path and a consistent educational program for operators.

“However, it is with the full support of the industry through member associations such as IIAR and IARW that all segments of the industry are able to address specific training needs and issues.”

The proposed standards will define specific job levels and outline skills and abilities at each level. The skill standards, according to RETA, will shape and update training, education programs, and certification so that industrial ammonia refrigeration systems across the country will be operated safely and cost effectively by qualified technicians.

RETA is estimating that the project will be completed by the end of 2003.

For more information, visit www.reta.com (website).

Publication date: 12/24/2001