NRC Generic Letter 1983-39

NRC Generic Letter 1983-039: Voluntary Surevey of Licensed Operators

ML031080558
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/08/1983
From:	Eisenhut D G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
GL-83-039, NUDOCS 8312120029
Download: ML031080558 (12)

• & ,:_ I 0.cani December .1983 LI TO REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE UTILITIES

ON THE ATTACHED LIST Gentlemen:

SUBJECT: VOLUNTARY

SURVEY OF LICENSED OPERATORS (Generic Letter No. 83-39)The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has contracted with Battelle Pacific northwest Laboratories and its Human Affairs Research Centers to undertake a mailed survey of selected licensed operations personnel at commercial operating nuclear power plants. This information collection request has been approved under O11B Clearance lumber 3150-0102 which expires February 28, 1985.The purpose of the survey is to provide information that will be useful in understanding current work and staffing practices in nuclear power plant operations.

The survey focuses on work and shift scheduling, operations cress staff, and the shift technical advisor position.

Participation in the survey is voluntary.

The survey will provide an opportunity for industry-wide input from licensee personnel on significant regulatory issues currently under consideration by the Commission.

For example, responses to the survey will be considered in developing several recommendations, including a mechanism for operator-NRC

communication and licensed operator crew composition (pursuant to NUREG-0660, NUREG-0737).

Survey results will be reported in aggregate form to prevent the identification of individual respondents and specific utilities or plants.Should you have any questions about the survey, please contact Dr. liary V. MlcGuire at Battelle (206)525-3130, or Ns. Dolores ilorisseau at the NRC (301)492-4922.

Sincerely, VAW Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director / [i Division of Licensing I Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation tives Survey Enclosure:

List of Utility Representa L.S 1-, OFFICE DHFS:LQB:C

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=R FORM 318 (10-80) NRCM 0240 O FFICIA L REFC O RD C OPY MSGMo 1981-33g96 Utilities being Asked to Participate in this Survey Region I GPU Nuclear Tnc. P i S Pennsylvania Power and Light Co. 37i -Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 4;lt Region II k Alabama Power Co. I I >SC -Carolina Power and Light Co. -Florida Power Corp. -eO.Mississippi Power and Light Co. { w , South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. V9I'11 Region III Commonwealth Edison .Consumers Power Co.P< 'Dairyland Power Cooperative

1 -Indiana and Michigan Electric Co. i Iowa Electric Light and Power Co. 'p1 Northern States Power Co. fu _Toledo Edison Co. 34o 3 a Wisconsin Electric Power Co. -r-" Wisconsin Public Services Corp. fs%-Region IV Nebraska Public Power District '-9 Omaha Public Power District ZYf , Arkansas Power and Light Co. q-/&Public Service Company of Colorado %+-Region V I Portland General Electric Co. 4 _, -Sacramento Municipal Utility District -Southern California Edison -<-5 >F

I-1 This information collection has been approved under OMB No. 3150-0102 which expires 02/28185.Plant Survey Number __SURVEY ON OPERATIONS

CREW PRACTICES PART I. WORK AND SHIFT SCHEDULE: This questionnaire contains items concerning several different issues. First, there are several questions about your work and shift schedule.1. Please indicate what shift(s) you were working during your last full work week (without vacation or sick leave)by checking one box below.O Day O Swing o Graveyard O Other (e.g., combination, training, etc.). Please specify: 2. Please describe the operations shift crew that you worked with during your last full work week by completing the following table.Job Title Shift supervisor (person responsible for shift)Senior reactor operator (other than SS)Reactor operator Auxiliary or assistant operator Shift technical advisor Other (please specify): Number in Shift Crew 1.2 3.Total Number on Shift 3. Please indicate how often you have worked overtime in your current job during the last year. (Check one box below.)O Never O Less than once a month O About once a month O Several times a month, but not every week O At least once every week 4. When you work overtime, how much overtime do you typically work per day? (Please write in the number of hours below.)hours per day

5. The following isa list of situations in which you may be asked to work overtime.

Please indicate your reasons for working overtime In each situation by checking the appropriate boxes below.Working overtime }Working overtm 1 I never work is voluntary under Iis required as overtime under these conditions I part of the job Ithese conditions During normal operations to cover for staff absenteeism During normal operations due to regular shift rotation During normal operations to attend staff training During planned evolutions or outages (for example, refueling, scheduled maintenance)

_________

_________During unplanned abnormal conditions Other (please specify): 6. Please Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about shift work and overtime by circling the appropriate numbers below.Neither Agree Strongly Moderately Slightly nor Slightiy Moderately Strongly Agree Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree a. Shift rotation interferes with my personal and 1 2 3 A 5 6 7 b. I like the days off I get from shift rotation.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 c. accept AMif rotation as part ofmy job.;1 2 -,3 4 5. 6 7 d. Rotating shifts should be changed to regular shifts. .1 2 3 4 5 67 shftw ha 12-he ou. 1 2 3 4 5 67 Week.f. Overtime should be voluntary.

'- 12 3 4 5 6 7 g. orin ovrtmesome-

~timescreatesplant'

1- -4. 5 6 7 safety problems.

--h. Overtime requirements interfere with my 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 personal and family life.I. Ilktheextra pay. get-tromwo noetm.-- 1 -2 3~ 7:-4 5 6 7 2 I I-j 7. In your opinion, afterworking four or more hours overtime, the time off before returning to work should be at least: o 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> o 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> o 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> O 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> o 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> 8. In your opinion, what is the minimum operations shift crew necessary to operate your plant safely? What is the ideal operations shift crew? (Please indicate your opinions by completing the following table.)Minimum Number in Shift Crew Ideal Number in Shift Crew Job Title Shift supervisor (person responsible for shift)Senior reactor operator (other than SS)Reactor operator Auxiliary or assistant operator Shift technical advisor Other (please specify): 1.2.-3.Total Number on Shift PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 4 3

--- --- --- ____---- --. I I I I PART II. THE SHIFT TECHNICAL

ADVISOR: Next there are several questions about the shift technical advisor position at your plant Please note that these questions.

apply to the staff position performing the STA function (e~g, 'STA." 'Shift Engineer,'

etc.).9. A list of activitiesthat might be performed byan STAis shown below. Please look ateach item on this listand circle the appropriate numbers to Indicate whether the STA at your plant performs these activities while on STA duty.Performs Performs During During Normal Off-normal Never Don't Operations Operations Performs Know Monitorvitalcorepiariameters

1234 Writes/reviews LERs .~ .1 -2 3 4 Reviews or develops changes in procedures

1 2 3'4 Performs accident analyses 1 2 3 4 Trainsstff

1 2 3 Mnitors oprtosfor plant aeyi* 2 '3 4 Assists with shift turnover 12 3 4 Assumes responsibility for adherence to technical specs and procedures

1 2 3 4 Directscontrol_'_

r civtes 3"' 4- --;Monitors saeuards equipment.

,21 2 34 Performs calculations (e.g., heat balance) 1 2 34 Directs preparation for maintenance

1 2 3 4 a tans (cl upor3c 4 Reviews or approves surveillance tests .123 4 Reduces paperwork load of shift supervisor

1 2 3 4 Approves tagging of safety-related equipment

1 2 3 4 Diagnosesanormnal conditions

1I 4 Provides SS with overall perspective

2' 3 ."Haindls phone communication

1 2 3 4 Reads procedures

1 2 3 4 Performs reactor engineering fnctions and projects -. .2 .3 -4 Checks control panel indicators of plant condition

1 2 3 4 viw h o ds: 2 4 Maintains awareness of plant status -- 123 -4 Maintains shift activities log 12 3 4 Performs technical services department assignments

1 2 3 4 Studie.for icens 3 4 Reviews operating expen rie nc 1 .: ?. 4 Oter (please specify): 1.2.3.1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4

10. How often did you discuss control room operations or status with the STA on duty during your lastfull work week?O Never o Once o A few times during the week o Every day o Several times a day O Almost constantly

11. Please list the topics you discussed most frequently with the STA during your last full work week: 12. a. Approximately how many off-normal situations have you experienced when you were on shift in the past year?An off-normal situation is any unplanned transient (Please write in the number of off-normal situations below.)Off-normal situations (If none, please skip to Question 13 on page 7.)b. Did the operators request assistance in any of these off-normal situations?

0 No O Yes. If yes, in how many cases?c. Please indicate who was called and the number of off-normal situations in which they were called for assistance in the past year when you were on shift by completing the table below.Number of Times Individual or Group Called Called Operations Superintendent On-call Engineer Chemistry and Health Physics Shift Technical Advisor Quality Assurance or Control Instrumentation and Control Maintenance/Mechanical Maintenance/Electrical Training Department Plant Manager Other (please specify): 1.2.3.4.5 d. Please describe the three most recent off-normal situations in which the shift technical advisor (STA) was called or participated when you were on shift Indicate the type of assistance provided by checking the appropriate boxes below.CASE 1: Type of situation:

O STA was called 0 STA participated without being called Assistance provided by the STA (Check all that apply.)O read procedures

0 monitored vital 0 wrc core parameters ,te/reviewed LERs o provided diagnostic assistance O performed accident analysis 3 Other O handled phone communication o provided shift supervisor with overall perspective

.How helpful was this assistance? (Check one.)Neither Helpful Very Moderately Slightly nor Helpful Helpful Helpful Unhelpful Slightly Moderately Very Unhelpful Unhelpful Unhelpful 03 0 0 03 03 03 03 CASE 2: Type of situation:

O STA was called 0 STA participated without being called Assistance provided by the STA (Check all that apply.)O read procedures

0 monitored vital 0 wroto core parameters O provided diagnostic

0 performed accident 0 Othe assistance analysis 9Ireviewed LERs O handled phone 0 provided shift communication supervisor with overall perspective How helpful was this assistance? (Check one.)Very Helpful Neither Helpful Moderately Slightly nor Slightly Helpful Helpful Unhelpful Unhelpful Moderately Unhelpful UnI Very helpful 03 03 03 0l 03 O 03 6 CASE 3: Type of situation:

C STA was called 0 STA participated without being called Assistance provided by the STA (Check all that apply.)C read procedures o provided diagnostic assi stance O handled phone communication o monitored vital core parameters o performed accident analysis O provided shift supervisor with overall perspective El Other: 0 wrote/reviewed LERS How helpful was this assistance? (Check one.)Neither Helpful Very Moderately Slightly nor Slightly Moderately Helpful Helpful Helpful Unhelpful Unhelpful Unhelpful Very Unhelpful_

I3 ElI El1 ID 01 ID El 13. Below are a number of statements about the actual use of the STA at your plant Please indicate the extent to which you personally agree or disagree with each statement by circling the appropriate numbers.Neither Agree nor Slightly Moderately Strongly Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Strongly Moderately Slightly Agree Agree Agree a. The STA enhances effective.--

-plant operations

.12 3 4 56 b. TheSTAhastoolittleauthority

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 during off -normal conditions.

have improved since the 1 2 3 4 5 76 7-position was created. .-d. The STA should be required to have an engineering degree.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 e. The STAis an unnecessary

1 -2 -,3 -4 5 6 position.

., f. STAs should have more operations experience.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 conditions the STA con- 1 -2 trb sto plant safety h. The STA should have an SRO license. 1 2 3 4 7 3 4 5 6 7 i. The STA does not have .- -.-enough to doduringnormal

1 23 45 6 j- The overall benefits of the STA position justify the additional staffing costs.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 PART lil.

BACKGROUND

Next there are a number of questions about your work experience and education.

14. What is your current job title and department?

Titie Department

15. What is the title of the person to whom you report? That is, who is your main supervisor?

Title Department

16. Do you belong to a union or collective bargaining unit?O No O Yes 17. Into what job(s) in your plant or utility could you move from your current position?Job Title Department

18. How tong have you worked in your present job?years months 19. What two jobs did you hold prior to this job? Please list your most recent job first.Type of Organization Number of Title Department (Utility, Military, etc.) Years 1.2.20. How long have you been with this utility?years months 21. How many years of experience do you have in nuclear operations?

Commercial (with this or other utilities) .years Nuclear Navy .years Other (please specify):.._ years 22. How many years of experience do you have in other modes of electricity production?

Fossil: years Hydro: years 8

23. What is your educational background? (Please check the highest level of formal education you have completed.)

o GED O High school graduate O 1-2 years of college ...................

Field: O Associate degree .....................

Field: O 3-4 years of college ...................

Field: i O Bachelors degree .....................

Field: i O Some post-graduate education

.........

Field: i O Masters degree .......................

Field:-0 Other (please specify): 24. What license(s)

do you hold for your present station? (Check all that apply.)o RO License (for years)o SRO License (for years)O Other (please specify): 25. What license(s), if any, have you held previously? (Check all that apply.)O RO on BWR o RO on PWR o SRO on BWR o SRO on PWR O Other (please specify): PART IV: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE:

Finally, these last questions ask about your opinion of this survey.26. Several statements describing this questionnaire are listed below. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of these statements by circling the appropriate numbers.Neither Agree Strongly Moderately Slightly nor Slightly Moderately Strongly Agree Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree I feel that the questions adequately addressed the issue of:.:a.. Mworkandshift schedle 12 3 -4 -57 b. The shift technical advisor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 c. My background

-.1 -:2: 2'3 X 4 : 5 6 7-This sort of questionnaire is a good way to obtain 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 input from operations staff.9

27. In your opinion, what would be the best ways of obtaining input from operations staff on issues of concern to the NRC? Please indicate your opinions by circling the appropriate numbers below. k Neither Good nor Poor Very Modealy Slightly Good Good Good Slightly Moderately Very.Poor Poor Poor Written questionnaires or mailedsurvey-

1 2 3 456 Personal interviews

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Telephone interews w 1 2 3 4 5 .6 Suggestion system or box 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smaallk wp- 4 2'3 :'5 6 7 Conferences

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Other (please specify):.1." -1 2 3 -4 5 6 7: 2 3 4 5 6 7 Please use the space below (or the following pages) for any additional comments.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE.

PLEASE RETURN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE

IN THE ATTACHED RETURN ENVELOPE TO: Battelle Human Affairs Research Centers 4000 N.E. 41st Street Seattle, WA 98105 If you have any questions about this survey, or if your return envelope Is missing, please contact usatthe above address or by telephone at (206) 525-3130, extension

475.10