Operational Experience Nuclearpower

opopA discussion of Conservative Decision making, Operational decision making, and Operating Experience (OE) at a Nuclear power plant (M J Rhoades)

What is the difference between Conservative and Operational decision making at a Nuclear power plant. In order to discuss this difference, I feel it would be prudent to define both of these decision making tools before explaining the major differences. Conservative Decision Making is a mind set or culture of operating control room staff (At a Nuclear Power Plant) that invokes a cautious and prudent approach to the operating conditions existing in the plant. And as such, permits appropriate variability for intelligent human control yet maintains performance within a desired safety envelope. Operational Decision Making, is a set of principles and attributes that, when properly applied, will help build a culture in which managers systematically and rigorously make operational decisions that support safe, reliable, and efficient plant operation. By the definition given above, Conservative Decision Making is a function of the on shift operating personnel actions or responses taken during normal and off normal plant operating conditions. It is the thought process, by which the operating staff interprets the plant conditions and acts on these conditions in a cautious, self evaluating, and questioning manner. It is a "what if" attitude that is applied to operations with defined plant safety margins in mind. Some examples of the attributes of Conservative Decision Making are as follows: - Caution when approaching plant problems, either in the secondary where the plant may be Challenged or all reactor safety systems. - Dont act if the outcome of your actions is uncertain. It's better to let automatic systems function if you do not understand the action you should take. - Jumpers and bypasses should be minimized and strictly controlled. A safety review should be performed prior to installation of any jumpers or bypasses. -...