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Finnish outage management practices to reduce occupational doses and shorten outage duration

Journal Article · · Health Physics
OSTI ID:394080
;  [1]
  1. Commonwealth Edison Co., Downers Grove, IL (United States)

Two Finnish nuclear power stations, TVO and Loviisa, have been among the world leaders in nuclear power plants. The plants consistently accomplish refueling outages in less than 25 days and outage occupational doses below 50 person-rem per unit. As U.S. utilities enter a deregulated market, cost reduction has become a paramount interest along with safe nuclear plant operations. U.S. attention has focused on European plant experience to better understand the relationship between shorter refueling outages and reduction in occupational dose. This paper summarizes the observations made during a NARTC site visit in October, 1995, to TVO and Loviisa to study health physics management practices to achieve this world class performance. Planning and selection of work is critical to the success of a shorter outage. Planning needs to occur by outage time, in-plant zone and be resource loaded/coordinated. The TVO plant works to a 10-y planning matrix. Only required work is approved at Loviisa; nice to do work is not allowed. Training of Finnish workers occurs in a carefully laid out plan from apprenticeship to journeyman levels. Finnish attitudes about radiation protection and work performance is discussed as also being a key to Finnish successes.

OSTI ID:
394080
Report Number(s):
CONF-9607135--
Journal Information:
Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: Suppl.6 Vol. 70; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English