Information Notice 1995-48, Results of Shift Staffing Study
| ML031060170 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/10/1995 |
| From: | Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| IN-95-048, NUDOCS 9510040181 | |
| Download: ML031060170 (8) | |
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UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 October 10, 1995 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 95-48: RESULTS OF SHIFT STAFFING STUDY
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Puroose
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information as
notice to Inform addressees of the results of the NRC's study conducted to address
part of an NRC Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) project
the adequacy of minimum shift staffing levels at nuclear power plants (NPPs).
It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability
to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar
problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not
NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is
required.
Description of Circumstances
On November 26, 1991, the NRC issued IN91-77, "Shift Staffing atthat Nuclear
Power Plants," (Reference 1) to alert licensees to the problems could
result from inadequate controls to ensure that shift staffing is sufficient to
accomplish all functions required by an event. However, after IN 91-77 was
issued, event follow-up inspections indicated that problems Involving shift
staffing and task allocation continued to occur.
As a result, the NRC continued with further research in this of area. This
research included an NRC RES project to address the adequacy minimum shift
staffing levels through a shift staffing study encompassing all licensee staff
initially needed during an event.
The first component of the shift staffing study (Reference 2) included an
evaluation of the experience and events for which staffing was a contributing
factor and the identification of the primary issues related to NPP concerns shift
staffing
staffing levels. Particular attention was given to shift events typically
expressed in recent inspection reports. The corresponding of emergency
occurred at power during the backshift. In addition, observation appeared to
preparedness exercises showed that the potential for work overload
be higher among senior reactor operators and shift supervisors than among
reactor operators. Dominant factors identified in the study were task
allocation and location (including fire brigade support), procedure design, human-system interface, training, and communications.
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- J IN 95-48 October 10, 1995 The second component of the shift staffing study (Reference 3) consisted of
detailed, on-site data collection and assessment of the adequacy of current
NPP staffing practices for performing activities necessary for responding to
and mitigating events. This effort was accomplished by a team survey of the
staffing practices at seven NPPs. The two-person research teams, site having both
operational and human factors expertise, gathered information on from
seven voluntary participants representing the four vendor types, the four NRC
regions, single and multi-unit sites, and a variety of plant ages. The teams
used four methods of collecting data: (1)plant documentation review, to a
(2)table-top talk-throughs of two accident scenarios (a fire leading to
reactor trip with complications and either a control room fire leading
evacuation and remote shutdown or a station blackout), (3)outside control
room walk-throughs of specific tasks related to the scenarios, and (4)
interviews with site personnel from different groups and levels. Findings of
the second component of the study were the folowing:
- The licensees surveyed did not use a systematic process for establishing
site-specific shift staffing levels.
- The licensees surveyed frequently assigned additional plant-specific
tasks that were not specified by regulation to be performed by licensed
and non-licensed personnel during an event.
- Five of the licensees surveyed used licensed personnel to staff the fire
brigade.
- The administrative procedures of the licensees surveyed varied
significantly in both the licensed and non-licensed personnel shift
staffing levels and the types of positions staffed. In addition, the
number of non-licensed operators normally used during the backshift
varied greatly.
- The radiation protection and chemistry technicians of all the licensees
surveyed had a high workload during the scenarios.
- During scenario talk-throughs, similar-vendor licensees made
significantly different decisions, resulting in very different control
room activities and in-plant tasks.
- The licensees surveyed were actively engaged in efforts to reduce
operating and maintenance costs, which could result in a reduction in
staff.
Discussion
As stated in IN 91-77, 'The number of staff on each shift is expected to be
sufficient to accomplish all necessary actions to ensure a safe shutdown of
the reactor following an event. Those actions include implementing emergency
operating procedures, performing required notifications, establishing and
maintaining communications with the NRC and plant management, and any
additional duties assigned by the licensee's administrative controls....
Section 50.54(m) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
IN 95-48 October 10, 1995 addresses only minimum staffing levels for licensed personnel and does not
necessary actions
address personnel availability for performing all of the by an event."
specified in the licensee's administrative controls and required
The licensees surveyed generally staffed to levels greater than those required
specifications for
by either the regulations or their plant-specific technical results of the
both licensed and non-licensed personnel. Nevertheless, the
into areas
research project described in this IN provide several insights following
functions an
which could impact the ability to accomplish safety
event.
This information notice requires no specific action or writtenpleaseresponse. If
in this notice, contact
you have any questions about the information Office of
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
1. NRC Information Notice 91-77, NShift Staffing at Nuclear Power Plants,"
November 26, 1991.
2. D. Shurberg et al., 'Identification of Issues Associated with Nuclear
Power Plant Shift Staffing Levels," Task 1 Letter Report, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, July 20, 1994. (Accession No. 951003074)
2. S. Haber et al., "Nuclear Power Plant Shift Staffing Levels: Site Data
Collection Report," Letter Report, Brookhaven National Laboratory, February 1995. (Accession No. 9510030160)
Technical contacts: Jesse Arildsen, NRR David Desaulniers, NRR
(301) 415-1026 (301) 415-1043 Neal Hunemuller, NRR
(301) 415-1152 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
4jC4 4 e C by %4efr
Arfachment
IN 95-48 October 10, 1995 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
Information Date of
Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to
95-47 Unexpected Opening of a 10/04/95 All holders of OLs or CPs
Safety/Relief Valve and for nuclear power reactors.
Complications Involving
Suppression Pool Cooling
Strainer Blockage
95-46 Unplanned, Undetected 10/06/95 Al I holders of OLs or CPs
Release of Radioactivity for nuclear power reactors.
from the Exhaust Ventilation
System of a Boiling Water
Reactor
95-12, Potentially Nonconforming 10/05/95 All holders of OLs or CPs
Supp. 1 Fasteners Supplied by for nuclear power reactors.
A&G Engineering II, Inc.
95-45 American Power Service 10/04/95 All holders of OLs or CPs
Falsification of American for nuclear power reactors.
Society for Nondestructive
Testing (ASNT) Certificates
95-44 Ensuring Compatible Use of 09/25/95 All Radiography Licensees.
Drive Cables Incorporating
Industrial Nuclear Company
Ball-Type Male Connectors
95-43 Failure of the Bolt-Locking 09/28/95 All holders of OLs or CPs
Device on the Reactor for nuclear power reactors
Coolant Pump Turning Vane designed by Westinghouse
Electric Corporation (W).
95-42 Commission Decision on the 09/22/95 All holders of OLs or CPs
Resolution of Generic for nuclear power reactors.
Issue 23, Reactor Coolant
Pump Seal Failure'
95-41 Degradation of Ventilation 09/22/95 All holders of OLs or CPs
System Charcoal Resulting for nuclear power reactors.
from Chemical Cleaning of
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
IN 95-48 October 10, 1995 addresses only minimum staffing levels for licensed personnel and does not
address personnel availability for performing all of the necessary actions
specified in the licensee's administrative controls and required by an event."
The licensees surveyed generally staffed to levels greater than those required
by either the regulations or their plant-specific technical specifications for
both licensed and non-licensed personnel. Nevertheless, the results of the
research project described in this IN provide several insights into areas
which could impact the ability to accomplish safety functions following an
event.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
orig /s/'d by BKGrimes/for
Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
1. NRC Information Notice 91-77, "Shift Staffing at Nuclear Power Plants,"
November 26, 1991.
2. D. Shurberg et al., "Identification of Issues Associated with Nuclear
Power Plant Shift Staffing Levels," Task 1 Letter Report, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, July 20, 1994. (Accession No. 951003074)
2. S. Haber et al., "Nuclear Power Plant Shift Staffing Levels: Site Data
Collection Report," Letter Report, Brookhaven National Laboratory, February 1995. (Accession No. 9510030160)
Technical contacts: Jesse Arildsen, NRR David Desaulniers, NRR
(301) 415-1026 (301) 415-1043 Neal Hunemuller, NRR
(301) 415-1152 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
DOCUMENT NAME: 95-48.IN
TechEd reviewed this document on 9/20/95.
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: 'C' - Copy without enclosures 'E ' Copy with enclosures 'N = No copy
OFFICE HHFB/DRCH HHFB/DRCH DRCH
NAME JArildsen* CThomas* BBoger*
DATE 09/19/95 09/22/95 09/25/ 95 lOFFICE PCEB/DRPM PCEB/DRPM
NAME RKiessel* AChaffee* _ _t_ _ff__ieldI
DATE 10/02/95 10/04/95 10/,4 /95 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
IN 95-xx
October xx, 1995 addresses only minimum staffing levels for licensed personnel and does not
address personnel availability for performing all of the necessary actions
specified in the licensee's administrative controls and required by an event."
The licensees surveyed generally staffed to levels greater than those required
by either the regulations or their plant-specific technical specifications for
both licensed and non-licensed personnel. Nevertheless, the results of the
research project described in this IN provide several insights into areas which
could impact the ability to accomplish safety functions following an event.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you
have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of
the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
References
1. NRC Information Notice 91-77, "Shift Staffing at Nuclear Power Plants,"
November 26, 1991.
2. D. Shurberg et al., "Identification of Issues Associated with Nuclear
Power Plant Shift Staffing Levels," Task 1 Letter Report, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, July 20, 1994. (Accession No. 951003074)
2. S. Haber et al., "Nuclear Power Plant Shift Staffing Levels: Site Data
Collection Report," Letter Report, Brookhaven National Laboratory, February 1995. (Accession No. 9510030160)
Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts: Jesse Arildsen, NRR David Desaulniers, NRR
(301) 415-1026 (301) 415-1043 Neal Hunemuller, NRR
(301) 415-1152 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\NKH\SSTAF-R1.BKG
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To receive a copy of this document, indicate In the box:
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IN 95-XX
September xx, 1995 Technical contacts: Jesse Arildsen, NRR
(301) 415-1026 David Desaulnriers, NRR
(301) 415-1043 Neal Hunemuller, NRR
(301) 415-1152 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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