ML19351A236
| ML19351A236 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/06/1989 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-PII, TASK-SE SECY-89-203, NUDOCS 8907110288 | |
| Download: ML19351A236 (5) | |
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SECY-89-203 July 6, 1989 For:
The Ccamissioners From:
Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations
Subject:
SEMIANNUAL STATUS REPORT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INDUSTRY'S OPERATOR LICENSING TRAINING PROGRAMS
Purpose:
To inform the Commission about the effectiveness of the nuclear power industry's operator licensing training
- programs,
Background:
At the request of the Commission, the staff has prepared this second in a series of semiannual status reports on the effectiveness of cperator training programs in the industry.
On December 22, 1988, the staff provided the Cosmission with the first status report on the effectiveness of the industry's operator licensing training programs (SECY-88-351).
Based on information regarding accreditation status and operator licensing examination results, the staff reported that accreditation improved training program structure and development of training materials.
Furthermore, the industry's licensed operator training programs were viewed as critical for enhancing reactor safety.
Discussion:
The effectiveness of the nuclear power industry's operator licensing training programs is judged by considering several factors.
For purposes of this report, information regarding accreditation status and operator licensing examination results has been included.
In addition, a summary has been provided of recent training inspection findings, along with a brief discussion of emerging issues regarding training requirements for shift supervisors and management training.
Contact:
Jack W. Roe, NRR 492-1004 Oh 2nen I oass >&
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Status of Accreditation - In its " Policy Statement on Training J
r and Qua11rication of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel," the L
Commission endorsed the INPO-managed accreditation program with 1
the understanding that the industry would have 10 programs at i
61 sites ready for accreditation by December 31, 1986.
The 1
industry met that commitment, and substantial progress has been made since that date. The following is a summary of the status 1
of accreditation of licensed operator training programs as of May 26, 1989:
The licensed operator and senior operator training programs have been accredited at all sites except Seabrook, South H
Texas, Clinton, and Watts Bar.
INPO expects newly licensed I
plants to submit an acceptable self-evaluation report within i
2 years of initial fuel load and first startup.
The licensed
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operator training programs at Seabrook and Clinton have been reviewed but have not gone before the Accreditation Board.
The licensed operator programs at South Texas and Watts Bar have not been reviewed but self-evaluation reports are expected.by the end of 1989.
Twelve sites have been granted accreditation for their licensed operator training programs for the second round of accreditation; that is, 4 years have passed since these sites received accreditation for their programs and they have been reevaluated through a second team evaluation and appearance before the Accreditation Board.
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At the same time as licensed operator training programs are reviewed for accreditation renewal, the " Continuing Training i
for Licensed Personnel" program is reviewed for accreditation as a separate program. Therefore, these twelve sites have had their " Continuing Training for Licensed Personnel" accredited.
An NRC observer was present at 57 of the initial Accreditation Board meetings and at 4 of the renewal Accreditation Board meetings.
INPO monitors training through its plant evaluation process, on-going liaison activities, and review of industry data bases.
INPO follow-up of concerns ranges from correspondence to special plant visits to consideration of continuing accreditation status.
For example, this winter Ft. St.
Vrain's maintenance training programs were placed on probationary status for 120 days by the Accreditation Board.
At the June meeting of the Accreditation Board, nine of ten INPO accredited training programs at Palo Verde were placed on probationary status for 120 days. The radiation protection program was not put on probation. Moreover, training programs were reviewed at Turkey Point and Hatch to be sure INPO concerns were addressed.
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Training Inspections - Inspection Procedure 41500, " Training and Quamication Etf activeness," was developed by the NRR staff with extensive assistance from the regions. This procedure is designed for use both as a regional initiative in those' cases in which poor licensee performance is indicative of ineffective training programs or i?iplementation and as a means for evaluating the overall quality of industry training programs through a 1
series of inspections conducted each year at a number of plants by Headquarters staff.
This inspection procedure was pilot tested at the inspection at Turkey Point conducted May.1989 and will be used for subsequent training inspections. These inspections focus on the five elements of effective performance-based training as endorsed by the Consnission's Policy Statement:
(1) systematic i
analysis of jobs, (2) development of learning objectives, (3) implementation of trainin the end of ~ training, and (5) g, (4) evaluation of the trainee at revision of training, based on job performance.
Inspections of training programs at five sites are planned between June and December 1989.
The staff has reviewed the training programs for maintenance l
and licensed operator requalification at Nine Mile Point and the training programs for licensed operators, non-licensed operators, and licensed operator requalification at Turkey Point.
The Turkey Point inspection was, conducted as. a follow-up to the L
unsatisfactory performance of their operators on the NRC l
requalification examination conducted in March 1989. The Nine Mile Point inspection was part of the Special Team Inspection l'
conducted from January to March 1989.
4 The Training Department at Nine Mile Point appeared to be L.
isolated from the site and corporate organizatior.s, and this l
isolation had an impact on the quality of the training being provided to operators, technicians,'and engineers. The requalification training program for Unit 2 operators l
successfully implemented four elements of the Systems Approach to Training (SAT) but was weak in obtaining feedback from the plant on job performance. The Unit I requalification program l
was not effectively implemented due to a breakdown in the l-relationship between the Operations and the Training Departments, I
and previous corrective actions appeared to be ineffective.
Maintenance technician and engineering training was not effectively implemented because line managers were not providing the necessary direction for the programs. Collectively, these problems weakened the overall technical ability of the plant 1F staff.
Finally, management training to prepare technical personnel for their new role as supervisor was minimal and was j
not effectively implemented.
These concerns were transmitted to the licensee in April 1989 in Inspection Report Nos.
1 50-220/89-200 and 50-410/89-200.
They will be addressed in the licensee's restart a,ction plan.
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The Comissioners,
Although the structure, content, and documentation of the training. programs at Turkey Point were adequate, the inspection f
team noted several areas of concern.
Specifically, the cperator A
training program did not provide an adequate number of personne1' to compensate for the attrition of licensed. operators. The l
licensee examinations have not been effective in early identificaticu of substandard trainee skills and knowledge, resulting _in excessive attrition during contractor and NRC 4
licensing examinations.
In Inspection Report Nos.
50-250/89-23 and 50-251/89-23, transmitted to the licensee in June 1989, two.-
open ite;as'were noted. These relate to the licensee's use of task analysis in the development of training programs content and'the administration of instructor training. Moreover, the licensee continues to have problems with operator requalification.
The licensee's program to improve training programs has been
. discussed with Regio'n II and the Region is monitoring the licensee's program in this area.
Operator Licensing Examination Results - Licensed operator training programs are proving to be effective at producing candicates who pass the NRC licensing examination. The results for FY-87 FY-88, and FY-89 through March 31, 1989, are provided below:
REACTOR OPERATOR CANDIDATES PERCENT PASSED L
FY-87 FY-88 FY-89 to date L
WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS 88.8 90.0 87.1 OPERATING EXAMINATIONS 95.7 94'.7 97.0 l
SENIOR REACTOR OPERATOR CANDIDATES l
PERCENT PASSED FY-87 FY-88 FY-89 to date WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS 91.0 91.1 92.9 1.
OPERATING EXAMINATIONS 91.0 95.2 94.8 Emerging Issues Evaluating the Training Requirements of Shift Supervisors - The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) is evaluating the current training and education requirements for the shift supervisor position.to determine if they adequately support the
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I cverall scope of the shift supervisor's duties, particularly with respect to the types of knowledge that mipht be accuireo i
through college-level studies.
In 1983, a combired job analysis and task analysis of the shift supervisor and senior reactor operator positions was completed.
INP0 informed the Nuclear Management and Resources Council (NUMARC) that it is Planning to conduct a new analysis to identify the unique outies of the shif t supervisor.
Industry operating experience information will be examined to identify situations in which I
predictive and diagnostic skills or additional theoretical j
knowle$e could help crevent or mitigats pit.nt transients.
Existing INPO training documents will b4 reviewed for l
completeness with regard to the shift supervisor position. On completion, applicable INPO guidelines und criteria will l
be revised as required. NUMARC has proposed that the NRC l
essist the INPO staff in this effort. IIRC has agreed to do so.
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Research on Measurement _of Training Effycniveness - Although j
guideltnes have been put,11shes for 1mproy"ng nuclear power plant training programs, thers are limited ways to measure their i
effectiveness.
REf., with the assistancs of NRR, will hold a i
workshop comprised of experts in the area of training l
effectiveness measurement to determine if additional measurement t
techniques can be useo to evaluate training effectiveness at nuclear power plants, j
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Conclusions:==
Accredited licensed operator training frograms are effective at
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producing candidates who pass the NRC licensing exauination.
The use of Inspection Procedure 41500 will be used to monitor the quality of these training prograia;. A continuing effort is being made to identify and deal with omorging issues in personnel training at nuclear power plants.
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Victor Stall r Jr.
Executive Director i
i for Cperations DISTRIBUTION:
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