05000528/FIN-2012005-03
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Finding | |
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Title | Failure to Maintain Licensed Operator Examination Integrity |
Description | The inspectors identified a non-cited violation of 10 CFR 55.49, Integrity of Examinations and Tests, for the failure of the licensee to ensure the integrity of the licensed operator biennial written examinations. During the 2012 biennial written examination cycle, the exams were administered in a simulator environment that lacked positive controls to ensure that operators could not observe the reference material or examinations of other operators. Operators were allowed to review engineering schematics while standing at a table which allowed an angle to observe the computer screen and desk of another examinee approximately 5 feet away. Having the ability to view exam reference material being displayed on the computer screen during exam administration is considered an exam integrity compromise. However, an evaluation of the written exam results and interviews with the licensed operators signed in on an exam security agreement showed that the compromise did not have an actual effect on the equitable and consistent administration of the examination. The licensee entered the finding into the corrective action program as Action Request PVAR-4238204. The failure of the licensees training staff to maintain the integrity of examinations administered to licensed operations personnel was a performance deficiency. The performance deficiency was more than minor because it adversely affected the Human Performance attribute of the Mitigating Systems Cornerstone objective of ensuring the availability, reliability, and capability of systems that respond to initiating events to prevent undesirable consequences. Additionally, if left uncorrected, the performance deficiency could have become more significant in that allowing licensed operators to return to the control room without valid demonstration of appropriate knowledge on the biennial written examinations could be a precursor to a more significant event. Using NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 0609, Significance Determination Process, Attachment 4, Table 1 and 2 worksheets; and the corresponding Appendix I, Licensed Operator Requalification Significance Determination Process, the finding was determined to have very low safety significance (Green). Although the 2012 finding resulted in a compromise of the integrity of biennial written examinations, compensatory actions were immediately taken, and the equitable and consistent administration of the biennial written examination was not actually affected by this compromise. This finding has a cross-cutting aspect in the area of human performance associated with the work control component because the licensee failed to adequately plan work activities that incorporated job site conditions, including environmental conditions. |
Site: | Palo Verde ![]() |
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Report | IR 05000528/2012005 Section 1R11 |
Date counted | Dec 31, 2012 (2012Q4) |
Type: | NCV: Green |
cornerstone | Mitigating Systems |
Identified by: | NRC identified |
Inspection Procedure: | IP 71111.11 |
Inspectors (proximate) | M Brown L Carson S Garchow D Allen J Reynoso M Young B Larson J Groom I Anchondo N Hernandez D You |
CCA | H.5, Work Management |
INPO aspect | WP.1 |
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Finding - Palo Verde - IR 05000528/2012005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Finding List (Palo Verde) @ 2012Q4
Self-Identified List (Palo Verde)
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