ML052660016

Mantg Conference, 8/16/05 - Plenary - Keynote Speech by Samuel J. Collins, Regional Administrator, Region I, the Changing Roles of the Operators and Trainers

ML052660016
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	08/16/2005
From:	Collins S Region 1 Administrator
To:
Conte R
Shared Package
ML052790143	List: ML052660016 ML052770190 ML052790495
References
Download: ML052660016 (12)

Text

The Changing Roles of the Operators and Trainers By Samuel J. Collins Regional Administrator USNRC Region I MANTG Conference 8/16/2005 August 16, 2005 1

MANTG Conference 2005

• Major Topics / Challenges

1. Operator roles and responsibilities

2. Operator focus and awareness

3. NRC Initial exam quality improvements

• Underpinning Motivators

1. Safety

2. Security

3. Preparedness August 16, 2005 2

Topic 1. Operator Roles and Responsibilities

• Operators have THE CENTRAL ROLE in implementing Managements expectations

• Davis-Besse - a recent example of what happens when operators lose focus and dont question or challenge the problem

- Lack of support by management

- Insufficient operations staff to do the job

- Regulatory requirements not followed

- Poor safety conscious work environment August 16, 2005 3

Topic 1. Operator Roles and Responsibilities (Continued)

Public Health and Safety comes FIRST!

• Operators are responsible/accountable to two masters:

- Plant / Corporate management through procedures and training

- Federal government / NRC / Public through license conditions (that require procedures and training)

• Operators must maintain plant awareness and fitness for duty when on shift August 16, 2005 4

2. Operator Focus and Awareness

• Do you own your plant? Do you:

- Carefully walk down and assess systems when they have been stressed by an event?

- Require a high level of professionalism and attentiveness in the control room?

- Investigate significant adverse trends and problems to prevent recurrence?

- Ensure operability determinations are conservative and accurate?

• Are you making a difference?

August 16, 2005 5

2. Operator Focus and Awareness (Continued)

• Are Trainers willing to address problems in operations?

- Are training problems addressed in the CAP?

- Are cross-cutting issues defined by:

• Conjecture or solid causal analyses?

• Common causes / extent of condition identified?

• Are Operators willing to invest in training?

- Tear down the organizational barriers!

• Are you truly a learning organization in areas of safety, security and preparedness?

• Are you truly self-critical August 16, 2005 6

2. Operator Focus and Awareness (Continued)

New Test Question

1. The operator at the controls is tired and bored.

Which one of the following distracting conditions represents a safety issue (if any)

(check all that apply)?

A. Catching a quick cat nap - 5 minutes only B. Head bobbing up and down - nodding off C. Planning retirement on corporate web site - 10 minutes only D. Checks Internet baseball scores for only 1 minute August 16, 2005 7

Topic 3. NRC Initial Exam Quality Improvements

• Establishing the level of exam difficulty:

- Safe enough to start learning the job, or

- Ready to stand the shift - alone

• Post exam comment process - do you:

- Identify and resolve issues objectively?

- Always advocate 100% pass rate?

- Discriminate on the basis of safety?

• Are we aligned on post-exam expectations?

August 16, 2005 8

Facility-prepared NRC Exams are a Success Story

• Region I plants prepare most exams for administration by NRC Examiners

• Facility prepared exams have:

- Cost savings - this is a win-win situation

- Improved accuracy and validity

- Increased communication between NRC and Region I sites

• NRC values your assistance

• What can we do to improve this process?

August 16, 2005 9

Challenges and Final Thoughts

• Are you aligned now?

• Do you regularly conduct field observations of training performance?

• Are you a teacher / coach / mentor?

• When an event occurs, does a trainer:

- Participate in the review

- Own the issue and

- Take responsibility for correcting the problem?

• Do you have a strategy for:

- The entire season

- Not just a set of tactics for that game?

August 16, 2005 10

in Plant Performance Maintenance Operations Plant Engineering Support August 16, 2005 11

Backup Slides As required August 16, 2005 12