ML19296C114

Forwards IE Circular 80-02, Nuclear Power Plant Staff Work Hours. No Written Response Required

ML19296C114
Person / Time
Site:	West Valley Demonstration Project
Issue date:	02/01/1980
From:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Deuster R NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, INC.
References
NUDOCS 8002250243
Download: ML19296C114 (1)

Text

,d UNITED STATES g

g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3

E REGION I

,$"[

t 631 PARK AVENUE KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 FEB 1 1930 Docket Nos. 50-201 Nuclear Fuel Services, Incorporated ATTN:

Mr. R. W. Deuster President Suite 600 6000 Executive Boulevard Rockville, Maryland 20352 Gentlemen:

The enclosed Circular 80-02 is forwarded to you for information.

If there are any questions related to your understanding of the suggested actions, please contact this office.

Sincerely, b

f.

Boyce H. Grier

' Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Circular No. 80-02 2.

List of Recently Issued IE Circulars CONTACT:

D. L. Caphton (215-337-5308) cc w/encls:

J. P. Duckworth, General Manager 00 2500Q

ENCLOSURE 1 SSINS No.: 6830 Accession No.:

UNITED STATES 7912190657 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.

20555 IE Circular No. 80-02 Date: February 1, 1980 Page 1 of 2 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT STAFF WORK HOURS Description of Circumstances:

Studies indicate that with fatigue, especially because of loss of sleep, an individual's detection of visual signals deteriorates markedly, the time it takes for a person to make a decision increases and more errors are made, and reading rates decrease.

Other studies show that fatigue results in personnel ignoring some signals because they develop their own subjective standards as to what is important, and as they become more fatigued they ignore more signals.

Inspections of personnel performance and training since the accident at Three Mile Island, have shown that in certain situations facility personnel are either required or allowed to remain on duty for extended periods of time.

Also, complaints have been received from some licensed nuclear power plant operators concerning the number of continuous hours they have been on duty.

Licensee management is responsible for providing a sufficient number of trained personnel who are in the proper physical condition to operate and maintain the plant.

Licensee management should review their administrative procedures covering the working hours of nuclear power plant staff.

These procedures should establish a sound policy covering working hours for plant staff who perform safety related functions (e.g., senior reactor operators, reactor perators, health physicists, auxiliary oper-+

s, I&C technicians, key main-tenance personnel, etc.)

Subcommittee ANS-3 is currently developing criteria to address the subject of operator work hours.

These guidelines will become a part of ANSI N18.7.

The NRC is also considering issuing requirements for administrative procedures that would control staff overtime.

Until either the ANSI Standard is issued and endorsed by NRC (via a Regulatory Guide) or separate requirements are issued by NRC, it is recommended that the following guidance be used.

The guidance should be applied to all personnel performing a safety related function:

1.

Scheduled work should be limited to the following maximum work hours:

a.

An individual should not be permitted to work more than 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> straight.

IE Circular No. 80-02 Date: February 1,1980 Page 2 of 2 b.

There should be at least a 12-hour break between all work periods.

c.

An individual should not work more than 72-hours in any 7-day period.

d.

An individual should not work more than 14 consecutive days without having 2 consecutive days off.

2.

In the event that special circumstances arise that require deviation from the above, such deviations should be authorized by the Station Manager with appropriate documentation of the cause.

Plants should be staffed and schedules developed to operate such that exceptions are not required.

3.

If ;n operator is required to work in excess of 12 continuous hours, his duties should be carefully selected.

It is preferable that he not be assigned any task that affects core reactivity or could possibly endanger the safe operation of the plant.

No written response to this Circular is required.

If you desire additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

i e

ENCLOSURE 2 IE Circular No. 80-02 Date:

February 1, 1980 Page 1 of 1 RECENTLY ISSUED IE CIRCULARS Circular Subject First Date Issued To No.

of Issue 79-17 Contact Problem in 8/14/79 All Power Reactor 58-12 Switches on Licensees with an Opera-General Electric ting License (OL) or Con-Metalclad Circuit struction Permit (CP)

Breakers 79-18 Proper Insta:!ation of 9/10/79 All Power Reactor Target Rock Safety-Licensees with an OL Relief Valves or CP 79-19 Loose Locking Devices 9/13/79 All Power Reactor Licensees on Ingersoll-Rand Pumps with an OL or CP 79-20 Failure of GTE Sylvania 9/24/79 All Power Reactor Licensees Relay, Type PM Bulletin with an OL or CP 7305, Catalog SU12-11-AC with a 120V AC Coil 79-21 Prevention of Unplanned 10/19/79 All Power Reactor Licensees Releases of Radioactivity with an OL or CP 79-22 Stroke Times for Power 11/16/79 All Power Reactor Licensees Operated Relief Valves with an OL or CP 79-23 Motor Starters and Con-11/26/79 All Power Reactor Licensees tactors Failed to Op-with an OL or CP erate 79 Proper Installation and 11/26/79 All Power Reactor Calibration of Core Facilities with an OL or Spray Pipe Break CP Detection Equipment on 8WRs 80-01 Service Advice for GE 1/17/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Induction Disc Relays lities with an OL or CP