NRC Generic Letter 1982-02

NRC Generic Letter 1982-002: Nuclear Power Plant Staff Working Hours

ML031080258
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Sterling, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000514, 05000363, 05000599, 05000000, 05000515, 05000502, 05000600, 05000452, Zimmer, 05000471, 05000453, 05000516, 05000517, 05000376, Fort Saint Vrain, Washington Public Power Supply System, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Bailly, Allens Creek, Perkins, Cherokee, Black Fox, Hartsville, Phipps Bend, Yellow Creek, Crane
Issue date:	02/08/1982
From:	Eisenhut D G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
NUREG-0737 GL-82-002, NUDOCS 8202120001
Download: ML031080258 (2)

II; .i I4 Z-jFebruary 8, 1982Distribution:Central FilesDL/RFMWilliamsHThompson.JTO ALL LICENSEES OF OPERATING PLANTS, APPLICANTS FOR AN OPERATINGLICENSE, AND HOLDERS OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITSGentlemen:SubJect: Nuclear Power Plant Staff Working Hours (Generic Letter No. 82-02)The Commission has issued the attached policy statement on factorscausing fatigue of operating personnel at nuclear reactors. It is beingsent to you at this time for your information.As part of the implementation of this policy statement, we are revisingRegulatory Guide 1.33 and NUREG-0737 (Item I.A.1.3) to reflect thepolicy. In addition, we will be requesting all licensees to revisethe administrative section of their technical specifications to requirethat administrative procedures follow the policy statement guidelinesand that authorized deviations to the working hours guidelines bedocumented and available for NRC review. We will be contacting eachlicensee by separate letter once the Regulatory Guide and NUREG 0737revisions have been completed (presently estimated for March 1982).original signedbVDarrell G. EisenbtDarrell G. Eisenhut, DirectorDivision of LicensingEnclosure:Policy Statement8202120001j'/ f08202120001 820208PDR ADOCK ° .P PDROFFIC .............. .... .... .......... ff ... .............. ..... ............. ..................... ..................... ....................SURNAME. h .. ..................... ..................... ....................DATEt 2l ... /.II8 ..... .___ ..._ __ ____ ________ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___IR F R 318110. .. .. .. ...0.. .I.. 0 2 0AFF I I A R E C O R C O P Y .. ..... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ..NRC FORM 3i8 110/80) NRCM 0240O FFICIA L RE-C O RD C OPY* US;PO: 1980-329-824 POLICY ON FACTORS CAUSING FATIGUE Or OPERATINGPERSONNEL AT NUCLEAR REACTORSLicensees of operating plants and applicants for operating-licenses shall establish controls to prevent situations wherefatigue could reduce the ability of operating personnel tokeep the reactor in a safe condition. The controls shouldfocus on shift staffing and the use of overtime--key job-related factors that influence fatigue.The objective of the controls would be to assure that, to theextent practicable, personnel are not assigned to shiftduties while in a fatigued condition that could significantlyreduce their mental alertness or their decision makingcapability. The controls shall apply to the plant staff whoperform safety-related functions (e.g., senior reactoroperators, reactor operators, health physicists, auxiliaryoperators, and key maintenance personnel).Enough plant operating personnel should be employed to maintainadequate shift coverage without routine heavy use of overtime.However, in the event that unforeseen problems require substantialamounts of overtime to be used, on a temporary basis, the followingguidelines shall be followed:a. An individual should not be permitted to work more than16 h6urs straight (excluding shift turnover time).b. An individual should not be permitted to work more than16 hours in any 24-hour period, nor more than 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />sin any 48-hour period, nor more than 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> in anyseven day period (all excluding shift turnover time).c. A break of at least eight hours should be allowedbetween work periods (including shift turnover time).d. The use of overtime should be considered on an individualbasis and not for the entire staff on a shift.Recognizing that very unusual circumstances may ariserequiring deviation from the above guidelines, such deviationshall be authorized by the plant manager or his deputy, orhigher levels of management. The paramount considerationin such authorization shall be that significant reductions in theeffectiveness of operating personnel would be highly unlikely.In addition, procedures are encouraged that would allowlicensed operators at the controls to be periodically relievedand assigned to other duties away from the control board duringtheir tour of duty.