Operator response to incidents
- TENERA, San Jose, CA (USA)
For the last several years, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has considered amending its regulations to require that applicants for a senior reactor operator (SRO) license possess a baccalaureate degree (BS) in engineering or related sciences. The NRC's assumption is that SROs will acquire engineering knowledge and analytical techniques that will improve their ability to direct the operators in responding to potential emergency situations. To test this hypothesis, and to ascertain if this is the most effective means of improving accident response capability, a probabilistic risk perspective was used. This approach utilized published nuclear power plant probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) to identify accident sequences that are potentially significant public risk contributors. These sequences were systematically evaluated to identify aspects of operator response that might be enhanced by the attributes associated with a degree using operator action event trees (OAETs). This detailed examination provided another perspective on opportunities for operational enhancement and potential alternative methods of improving operator response to accidents. Accident sequences were chosen from the PRAs for boiling water reactors and pressurized water reactors.
- OSTI ID:
- 6923119
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-891103--
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Vol. 60; ISSN TANSA; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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