Information Notice 1989-72, Failure of Licensed Senior Operators to Classify Emergency Events Properly

Failure of Licensed Senior Operators to Classify Emergency Events Properly

ML031190090
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	10/24/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-072, NUDOCS 8910180092
Download: ML031190090 (8)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

-OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 October 24, 1989 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-72: FAILURE OF LICENSED SENIOR OPERATORS TO

CLASSIFY EMERGENCY EVENTS PROPERLY

Addressees

permits for nuclear power

All holders of operating licenses or construction power reactors.

reactors and all licensed operators of nuclear

Purpose

potential problems related

The purpose of this notice is to alert addressees to to classify events pro- to failures of licensed control room senior operators procedures. It is

perly using the site-specific emergency plan implementing for applicability to their

expected that recipients will review the informationavoid similar problems.

facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to not constitute NRC require- do

Suggestions contained in this information notice response

or written is required.

ments; therefore, no specific action

Description of Circumstances

level classifications during

The NRC has identified inaccurate emergency action NRC requalification

operator examinations and during emergency exercises. operating shift crews, examinations, conducted earlier this year with typical

senior operators to pro- identified at several plants the failure of licensed presented on the control

perly classify events on the basis of plant conditions classified, based on simu- room simulator. Also, several events were improperly examinations

lated plant conditions, during the course of NRC requalification

nuclear power station was

or evaluations of emergency exercises. Recently, one not know how to classify

issued a civil penalty because shift supervisors did

emergency events properly.

actual events. At one

Such classification problems have also occurred during

(as it should have been)

facility, in January 1989, an Alert was not declared that occurred while the

during a reactor coolant system leakage situation

reactor was in a cold shutdown condition.

Discussion:

degraded plant conditions, It is essential.that operators be able to recognize and activate emergency

classify the emergency on the basis of those conditions, at the appropri- response capabilities of the utility and offsite organizations

of the emergency plan, ate emergency action level. Demonstrating knowledge

910800 2Z

<-ON 89-72 October 24, 1989 including the responsibility to decide whether

required by 10 CFR 55.45, "Operating Tests." the plan should be executed, is

emergency exercises have been administered Requalification examinations and

by

at numerous facilities at which licensed senior the NRC under the shift team format

strate this competence. operators were required to demon- At several facilities there has been lack

of emphasis, during operator requali- fication training, on the bases of and strategies

emergency plan. This weakness has led to the for the implementation of the

noted a direct correlation between inadequate problems noted above. The NRC has

by licensed operators. At facilities where training and incorrect performance

torily passed the requalification examination, licensed senior operators satisfac- the

intensive simulator training on event classification training program included

solely on classroom exercises and lectures. as opposed to relying

The root causes for classification errors

procedures that are not "user friendly" andare attributable to implementing

Implementing procedures are sometimes difficultto ineffective training methods.

cases, it was apparent that licensed operators to interpret and, in some

training in event classification to understand had not received sufficient

provided. It is important that licensees and implement the guidance

sification procedures and the effectiveness ensure the usability of event clas- of training in those procedures.

This information notice requires no specific

you have any questions about the information action or written response. If

the technical contact listed below or the in this notice, please contact

appropriate NRR project-manager..

Charles E. Rosi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

C. Casto, Region II

(404) 331-5594 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• 1X i

Yttachment

IN 89-72 October 24, 1989 - -

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

89-71 Diversion of the Residual 10/19/89 All holders of OLs

Heat Removal Pump Seal or CPs for nuclear

Cooling Water Flow During power reactors.

Recirculation Operation

Following a Loss-of- Coolant Accident

89-70 Possible Indications of 10/11/89 All holders of OLs

Misrepresented Vendor or CPs for nuclear

Products power reactors.

89-69 Loss of Thermal Margin 9/29/89 All holders of OLs

Caused by Channel Box or CPs for BWRS.

Bow

89-68 Evaluation of Instrument 9/25/89 All holders of OLs

Setpoints During or CPs for nuclear

Modifications power reactors.

-- 89-67 Loss of Residual fleat 9/13/89 All holders of-OLs

Removal Caused by or CPs for PWRs.

Accumulator Nitrogen

Injection

89-66 Qualification Life of 9/11/89 All holders of OLs

Solenoid Valves or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

88-46, Licensee Report of 9/11/89 All holders of OLs

Supp. 4 Defective Refurbished or CPs for nuclear

Circuit Breakers power reactors.

89-65 Potential for Stress 9/8/89 All holders of OLs

Corrosion Cracking in or CPs for PWRs.

Steam Generator Tube

Plugs Supplied by

Babcock and Wilcox

89-64 Electrical Bus Bar Failures 9/7/89 All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit I

IN 89-72 October 24, 1989 including the responsibility to decide whether the plan should be executed, is

required by 10 CFR 55.45, "Operating Tests." Requalification examinations and

emergency exercises have been administered by the NRC under the shift team format

at numerous facilities at which licensed senior operators were required to demon- strate this competence.

At several facilities there has been lack of emphasis, during operator requali- fication training, on the bases of and strategies for the implementation of the

emergency plan. This weakness has led to the problems noted above. The NRC has

noted a direct correlation between inadequate training and incorrect performance

by licensed operators. At facilities where licensed senior operators satisfac- torily passed the requalification examination, the training program included

intensive simulator training on event classification as opposed to relying

solely on classroom exercises and lectures.

The root causes for classification errors are attributable to implementing

procedures that are not "user friendly" and to ineffective training methods.

Implementing procedures are sometimes difficult to interpret and, in some

cases, it was apparent that licensed operators had not received sufficient

training in event classification to understand and implement the guidance

provided. It is important that licensees ensure the usability of event clas- sification procedures and the effectiveness of training in those procedures.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

C. Casto, Region II

(404) 331-5594 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

EAB:NRR EAB:NRR TECH:EDITOR RII:DRIS C:EAB:NRR

• RBenedict:db *RLobel *RSanders *KPerkins CJHaughney

9/28/89 10/3/89 9/28/89 10/4/89 10/16/89

• C:OGCB:NRR C:LOLB:NRR C:PEPB:NRR C:IRB:AEOD DD:AEOD

CHBerlinger *GWright *RErickson *DCollins *CHeltemes

10/17/89 10/4/89 10/4/89 10/10/89 10/10/89 1O/g/89

. i

IN 89 October , 1989 Demonstrating knowledge of the emergency plan. including the licensed senior

operator's responsibility to decide whether and how the plan shall be executed.

is required by 10 CFR 55.45, "Operating Tests." Requalification examinations

and emergency exercises have been administered by the NRC under the shift team

format at numerous facilities at which licensed senior operators were required

to demonstrate this competence.

At several facilities there has been lack of emphasis, during operator re- qualification training. on the bases of and strategies for the implementation

of the emergency plan. This weakness has led to the problems noted above. The

NRC has noted a direct correlation between inadequate training and incorrect

performance by licensed operators. At facilities where licensed senior operators

satisfactorily passed the requalification examination, the training program

included intensive simulator training on event classification as opposed to

relying solely on classroom exercises and lectures.

The root causes for classification errors are attributable to implementing

procedures that are not *user friendly" and to ineffective training methods.

Implementing procedures are sometimes difficult to interpret and, in some cases, it was apparent that licensed operators had not received sufficient training

in event classification to understand and implement the guidance provided. It

is important that licensees ensure the usability of event classification

procedures and the effectiveness of training in those procedures.

No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the

appropriate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Mr. C. Casto

(404) 331-5594 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

EAB:NRR EAB:NRR TECH:EDITOR RII:DRIS C:EAB:

• RBenedict:db *RLobel *RSanders *KPerkins CJHaughney

/ /89 / /89 / /89 / /89 /Q / /89 C:0(00 C:LOLB:NRR C:PEPB:NRR C:IRB:AEOD DD:AEOD D:DOEA:NRR

CHBerlinger *GWright *RErickson *DCollins *CHeltemes CERossi

fD/I7/89 / /89 / /89 / /89 / /89 / /89

IN 89 October . 1989 Demonstrating knowledge of the emergency plan. including the licensed senior

operator's responsibility to decide whether and how the plan shall be executed, is required by 10 CFR 55.45, Operating Tests." Requallfication examinations

and emergency exercises have been administered by the NRC under the shift team

format at numerous facilities at which licensed senior operators were required

to demonstrate this competence.

At several facilities there has been lack of emphasis, during operator re- qualification training, on the bases of and strategies for the implementation

of the emergency plan. This has led to the problems noted above. The NRC has

noted a direct correlation between inadequate training and incorrect performance

by licensed operators. At facilities where licensed senior operators satis- factorily passed the requalification examination, the training program included

intensive simulator training on event classification as opposed to relying

solely on classroom exercises and lectures.

The root causes for classification errors are attributable to implementing

procedures that are not 'user friendly" and to ineffective training methods.

Implementing procedures are sometimes difficult to interpret and, in some cases, it was apparent that licensed operators had not received sufficient training

in event classification to understand and implement the guidance provided. It

is important that licensees ensure the usability of event classification

procedures and the effectiveness of training in those procedures.

No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the

appropriate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi. Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Mr. C. Casto

(404) 331-5594 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

EAB:NRR EAB:NRR TECH:EDITOR RII:DRIS C:EAB:NRR

• RBenedict:db *RLobel *RSanders *KPerkins CJMaughney

/ /89 / /89 / /89 / /89 / /89 C:OGCB:NRR C:LOLB:NRR C:PEPB:NRR C:IRB:AEOD DD:AEOD D:DOEA:NRR

CMBerlinger G6right *RErickson DCollins CHeltemes CERossi

/ /89 l/i/y9 / /89 to/il /89  :/1/89 / /89 Ilt air Ai

IN 89 October , 1989 Page 2 of

senior operators were required to demonstrate this competence.

At several sites there has been an apparent lack of emphasis during operator

requalification training on the bases of and strategies for the implementation

of the emergency plan. This has led to misclassification of events during

operator training. operator license examinations, and emergency exercises, as

well as during actual events. There is an apparent direct correlation between

inadequate training and incorrect performance by licensed operators. At sites

where licensed senior operators satisfactorily passed the requalification exami- nation, the training program included intensive simulator training on event

classification as opposed to relying solely on classroom exercises and lectures.

The root causes for classification errors are apparently attributable to

implementing procedures that are not "user friendly" and ineffective training

methods. Implementing procedures are sometimes difficult to interpret and, in

some cases, it was apparent that licensed operators had not received sufficient

training in event classification to understand and implement the guidance

provided. It is important that licensees ensure the usability of event

classification procedures and the effectiveness of licensed operator training

in those procedures.

No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the

appropriate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Mr. C. Casto

(404),$1W-5594 r1es

Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: FOR BENNETT

• (see previous concurrence)

• EAB:NRR EAB:NRR *TECH:EDITOR II:DRS C:EAB:tNPR C:OGCB:NRR

RBenedict:db RPobel KPerkins CJHaughney CHBerlinger

09/28/89 L( /3/89 09/28/89 /0 /4(/89 / /89 / /89 C:LOLB:NRR C:PEPB:NRR C:IRB;AEOD DD:AEOD D:DOEA:NRR

GWright R. Erickson DCollins CHeltemes CERossi

/ /89 Ifo/ A118% / /89 / /89 / /89 Int

IN 89 October , 1989 Page 2 of

senior operators were required to demonstrate this competence.

At several sites there has been an apparent lack of emphasis, during operator

requalification training, on the bases of and strategies for the implementation

of the Emergency Plan. This has led to misclassification of events during

operator training, operator license examinations, and emergency exercises, and

during actual events. There is an apparent direct correlation between inadequate

training and incorrect performance by licensed operators. At sites where

licensed senior operators satisfactorily passed the requalification examination

the training program included intensive simulator training on event classification

as opposed to relying solely on table-top exercises and classroom lectures.

The root causes for classification errors are apparently attributable to non- user friendly' implementing procedures and ineffective training methods.

Implementing procedures are sometimes difficult to interpret and. in some

cases, it was apparent that licensed operators had not received sufficient

training in event classification to understand and implement the guidance

provided. It is important that licensees assure the usability of event

classification procedures and the effectiveness of licensed operator training

in those procedures.

No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the

appropriate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Mr. C. Casto

(404) 841-5594 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Xoi 9,o, R. Aerk'.ns

EAB:NRR EAB:NRR TEC#:E0ITOR( RII:DRS C:EAB:NRR C:OGCB:NRR

RBenedict:db RLobel KAy8 * tmbsun CJHaughney CHBerlinger

/Ig/89 / /89 f//*/ 9 1 /89 / /89 / /89 C:LOLB:NRR C:_r :NRR C:IRB;AEOD DD:AEOD D:DOEA:NRR

&.Wri;ht -eek44R& *%fevers- DCollins CHeltemes CERossi

/ /89 / /89 / /89 / /89 / /89 I ra* so

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