Conduct of Operations

Draft 2/9/2006 FUNCTIONAL AREA GOAL: A high level of performance in DOE operations is accomplished by establishment of high operating standards by management, by communicating operating standards to the working level, by providing sufficient resources to the operations department, by ensuring personnel are well trained, by closely monitoring performance in operations, and by holding workers and their supervisors accountable for their performance in conducting activities.

REQUIREMENTS:

DOE O 5480.19 Conduct of Operations Requirements for DOE Facilities
10 CFR 830.120, Quality Assurance Requirements for DOE Nuclear Facilities

GUIDANCE:

ANSI/ASME NQA-1, Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities
IAEA Draft Standard - Conduct of Operations at Nuclear Facilities

Performance Objective 1: Contractor Program Documentation:

Effective implementation and control of operating activities are primarily achieved by establishing written standards in operations

A conduct of operations program has been established to implement DOE 5480.19, Conduct of Operations Requirements for DOE Facilities.
Procedures or other definitive documentation specify policies that are to be applied for operations, including goals and the means to achieve those
goals.
Operating Procedures provide for the types of controls necessary to implement policies.
Operations procedures support facility and DOE guidance for operations. Responsibilities for implementing these policies, including the responsibility of shift personnel, if applicable, should be clearly defined.
Safety, Environment, and Operating goals should be used as a management tool for involving cognizant groups or individuals in improving operating performance and for measuring operating effectiveness. Goals should be auditable, measurable, realistic, and challenging. Operations goals in areas such-as the following should be established:
- minimizing the unavailability of safety systems;
- minimizing personnel errors;
- As-Low-As Reasonably-Achievable (ALARA);
- minimizing lost facility capability;
- minimizing the number of unscheduled facility shutdowns per year;
- timely completion of scheduled surveillance;
- minimizing the amount of overtime;
- achieving and maintaining complete staffing and training of shift positions;
- minimizing waste; and
- minimizing the number of lighted annunciators.

Facility guidance exist which describes safety preplanning requirements for all operational activities. The guidance explains the role of safety analysis
reviews, job safety analyses, and the handling of safety matters.
Standards for the professional conduct of operations personnel have been be established so that operator performance meets the expectations of DOE and facility management.
Facility guidance exists that describes safety preplanning requirements for all operational activities.

Performance Objective 2: Contractor Program Implementation

The organization has implemented a program that ensures that Conduct of Operations requirements are incorporated into line activities.

2.1 Shift Routines and Operating Practices: The manner in which operations are directed ensure that a high level of ES&H performance in facility operations is achieved through effective implementation and control of operations activities that have the potential to impact worker safety and health, the environment, and public welfare.

Operator knowledge and performance support safe and reliable operation of the equipment and systems for which they are responsible.
Workers and their supervisors are held accountable for safety performance on the job.
Operations personnel adhere to the requirements of the facility industrial safety program.
Operator tours are of sufficient detail to ensure that the facility safety status is known. Each operator conducts a thorough tour of all areas within his/her responsibility, making appropriate equipment inspections at designated times at least once per shift. Plant security concerns do not override operator safety assessment duties.
Tour inspection sheets are utilized for providing guidance on the extent to which equipment and areas should be inspected during routine tours.
Written materials and entertainment devices (such as radios, televisions, tape players, and computer games) not related to job duties are prohibited from use by on-duty personnel in order to minimize distractions from their responsibilities which may lead to unsafe conditions.
Narrative logs are established at all key shift positions.
Supervisory positions have and use a turnover checklist in the turnover process that is designed to transfer vital information that may impact safety, system status, events, etc.
The organization has a process in place to identify, route, and maintain a required reading system of applicable memos, technical reports, and other pertinent operations, training, and industrial safety information to supervisors and operators.
A required reading file established and used in a manner that ensures that appropriate individuals are made aware of important information that is related to job assignments, including information on worker safety and health, the environment, and the public welfare.
An operator aid program is established to ensure that operator aids are posted and that they are current, correct, and useful.

2.2 Investigation of Abnormal Events: Abnormal events are investigated to ensure that facility events are thoroughly investigated to assess the impact of the event on facility operations, worker safety and health, the environment, and public welfare

Investigations determine the root cause of the event, ascertain whether the event is reportable, and identify corrective actions to prevent recurrence of the event.
The organization monitors, documents, and evaluates safety problems. Based on assessments of these problems, corrective actions are taken to improve safety performance.
Events that occur in the facility and adversely affect the safety of personnel and the environment receive a thorough investigation.
If an act of sabotage is discovered or suspected, is it immediately investigated to:
- Determine condition of affected systems and operability of safety systems;
- Make decisions on continued operation or safe shutdown;
- Minimize the impact of discovered acts of sabotage and deter future acts of sabotage?
Shift personnel are required to notify off-shift management and supervisors of off-normal events and emergencies.
Operators are knowledgeable about aspects of facility safety that affect operation and are able to analyze off-normal situations and take appropriate action to correct the causes(s) of problems.

2.3 Control of Equipment and System Status: Operating practices ensure that the facility configuration is consistent with design requirements and that the on-duty personnel know the status of equipment and systems.

Managers and supervisors ensure that only trained and authorized personnel operate equipment regulated by safety standards (i.e., cranes, forklifts, construction vehicles, etc.)
Equipment deficiencies are noted by facility operating personnel and identified in the work control system for correction.
An equipment-labeling program, which conforms to national standards
established and maintained to ensure that facility personnel are able to properly identify facility systems and equipment.
A labeling program is in place that helps ensure that facility personnel are able to positively identify equipment and materials they handle.
Are systems in place to ensure that duty position turnovers provide oncoming
operators with an accurate picture of facility status.

2.4 Lockout and Tagout & Independent Verification:

Locks and tags are placed on controls when for safety or other special administrative reasons controls must be established.
When there is the potential for equipment damage or injury during equipment
operations, servicing, maintenance, or modification activities due to inadvertent activation of equipment, does the facility lockout/tagout program protect personnel from injury, protect equipment from damage, maintain the operability of plant systems, and maintain the integrity of the physical boundaries of plant systems?
Does the independent verification program ensure correct facility operation and the correct position of components such as valves, switches, and circuit breakers?

2.5 Operations Procedures

The organization has approved procedures or other definitive documentation that specifies policies that are to be applied for operations.
Methods for developing new safety-related procedures and for procedure formats are clearly defined.
The content of safety-related procedures conforms to prescribed guidelines.
The organization has an adequate approval and review process for procedure development and revision.

2.6 Communications: Methods are in place and implemented to ensure that all facility personnel are promptly alerted to facility emergencies.

Systems in place for the notification of DOE and other agencies of abnormal
events ensure timely notification and thus maximize facility responsibleness to
public health and safety concerns?
Use of the facility public address system (page) is administratively controlled to ensure it retains its effectiveness in contacting plant personnel.
Methods are implemented to ensure that control areas can quickly contact on-shift operators or supervisors.
Radio usage is not allowed in areas where electronic interference with plant equipment may result.
The organization utilizes standardized terminology and abbreviations during communications about facility operations.
A management system has been established to communicate short-term information and administrative instructions ("operator orders") to facility personnel.

Performance Objective 3: DOE Line Management Oversight

DOE has established and implemented a program that verifies that the contractor's organizations have effective policy/guidance for implementation of a Conduct of Operations Program.
The oversight organization has identified the scope and is aware of the status of Conduct of Operations at the facility.
The oversight organization is staffed to support Conduct of Operations.
The oversight organization follows written procedures that define the organization's oversight of the Conduct of Operations implementation processes.
The oversight organization's process notifies the responsible line management of deficiencies found and documents those deficiencies in a tracking system that ensures corrective actions are taken.
The oversight organization processes trend deficiencies and uses these trends to help improve implementation of Conduct of Operations at the facility.
DOE field office representatives are involved in a day-to-day oversight of facility safety and OSH activities.

< BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE