Nuclear Plant Journal, May-June 2008

Performance-Based...
Continued from page 45
Personnel contamination event
investigation and decontamination would
on average require 5 person hours of
work. This would equate to a cost savings
of $250 per event and a total cost savings
of $10,500 in labor cost, estimated to save
42 contaminations during 2006.
Innovation:
What makes these strategies unique
are their focus on addressing the mental
processes people use when applying
radiation worker practices. This is
especially true for the DLA’s that were
performed.
The level of detail and comprehension
used is unique in that it looked at the
fundamental activities needed to perform
well in the field as a radiation worker and
performance-based training tested the
individuals in a setting reflecting plant
conditions.
There were four different DLA’s in
size and design established. The DLA
was a one on one evaluated activity one
evaluator to student. The areas were
separate in location where the students
were not distracted from activity in an
adjacent DLA. The station simulated
actual plant conditions and included some
of the following:
• Scaffolding interferences
• Valves
• Pumps
• Foreign Material Exclusion zones
• Hot spots
• Low dose waiting areas
• RWP postings
• Housekeeping concerns
• Radiation boundary awareness
• Area radiation monitors (alarm
capable)
The evaluators were trained in
observation techniques, specific DLA
briefings, as well as the specific circuit
breakers in each of the DLA presentations.
In order to ensure consistency, select
individuals performed the pre-job briefing
for the DLA and other individuals
performed the evaluations. The evaluator
requirements were that they had
successfully passed the DLA themselves
as well as performed a paired evaluation
with a qualified instructor.
Productivity/Efficiency:
This highly collaborative effort
between the training and radiation
protection organizations has contributed to
a more confident radiation worker, lower
dose, and lower human performance error
rates. The efficiency gains are realized
primarily because of reduced radiation
worker error rate and a more confident
workforce. The improved radiation
worker performance allows the radiation
protection technicians to spend more time
in the prevention and detection areas of
job performance, thereby improving
overall efficiency.
Because of the training provided, a
Contamination Hazard Assessment and
Resolution form was developed to assist
in reducing personnel contaminations.
This approach focused on identifying
potential contamination control issues
through completion of a Contamination
Hazard Assessment (CHA) checklist to
assist in identifying and communicating
potential issues to Radiation Protection
personnel during the RP brief.
During the U1C21 refueling outage
DC Cook was challenged with work
scope in the contaminated areas of the
plant at two and a half times the volume
of a regular refueling outage. This
increase, along with work in areas not
routinely accessed by plant personnel
challenged radiation workers with higher
than normal radiological hazards. The
Contamination Hazard Assessment
(CHA) sheet is a tool used first by the
job supervisor and their crew to identify
any situations that have the potential for
personnel contaminations.
Using the information on the CHA
the radiation workers would proceed to
the radiological control point and have a
brief with radiation protection. This CHA
facilitated discussion with RP personnel,
which focused on how they could help
the workers stay contamination free while
performing their work. This approach,
coupled with the training received during
the DLA, greatly improved the overall
radiological worker practices at DC
Cook.
Transferability:
Several aspects of this program
are very transferable across the nuclear
industry, and even to other industries.
The concept of basing a performance
analysis on a carefully developed model
of successful work performance can be
applied to any position.
We are particularly proud that a
number of personnel from other nuclear
utilities have benchmarked our DLA
approach. Most notably, a team from a
Japanese utility has recently visited CNP
to learn about this approach. In addition,
several US stations who have already
heard about it asked for copies of, our
Contamination Hazard Assessment form
and process.
Contact: Joseph Giuffre, American
Electric Power, Donald C. Cook Nuclear
Plant, One Cook Place, Mail Zone 11,
Bridgman, MI 49106; telephone: 269-
466-3304, fax: 269-466-3377, email:
jagiuffre@aep.com.
www.
radiation
training.com
46 http://www.NPJOnline.com Nuclear Plant Journal, May-June 2008