Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
Aim of inspection
This is an operations themed inspection looking at how the licensee manages specific aspects of operations including alarm handling and reactivity control. It will also include standard control and supervision inspection (LC26) elements including shift handover and autotour surveillances.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC10 - Training - Rating: Green
- LC26 - Control and supervision of operations - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
We reviewed the corporate arrangements central to the operations department processes, local operational departmental instructions and spoke to a variety operations staff including control room supervisors and unit desk engineers. We found that a some of the local arrangements for the operations department to comply with add little value over the relevant corporate arrangements and some were not required. We advised that there should be a system review of them to enable focus on those where local arrangements that add value.
The use of relevant human performance tools including good setting to work briefs, take 5 risk assessments and a questioning attitude was evident throughout the inspection.
Comprehensive corporate arrangements exist for reactivity management and the station has effectively implemented these arrangements. Although a minor regulatory issue was raised with respect to ongoing refresher classroom training that site are addressing, operators questioned had a good understanding of reactivity management and we observed operators responding effectively during a simulator assessment.
Alarm management and defects within the CCR were inspected. There are 3 processes in place for managing these:-
- DPCS – Data Amendment Requests (DAR)
- Defeat of Interlocks (DOIs)
- Facia Alarms (Alarm Interference)
Minor issues were found with respect to the administration of these processes. None of these were significant enough to undermine confidence in nuclear safety but a number of observations were given to the station as opportunities for improvement.
Conclusion
In relation to the specific aspects inspected; alarm handling / CCR Defects, reactivity control and elements of control and supervision (LC26) including shift handover and operator surveillances no significant issues were found. Therefore a green rating against LC26 has been awarded. On reviewing the evidence I have also provided a green rating against LC10 for training, specifically training in relation to reactivity management. Minor regulatory (L4) issues have been raised in relation to ongoing reactivity management training and local operations departmental instructions.