02/26 14:46 U.S. lawmakers question nuke safety, say staffs overworked

By Patrick Connole

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Friday warned that the safety of some commercial nuclear power plants was at risk, due to low staffing levels and overworked employees.

The lawmakers fear that excessive worker overtime and depleted staffing levels at some plants may present a serious safety hazard, and blamed industry cost-cutting in preparation for electric power deregulation as the culprit.

"We have recently heard reports of routine use of staff overtime at nuclear power plants that, although authorized, appears likely to exceed the 'temporary basis' and 'very unusual circumstances" standards," the three Democratic House members said in a letter to NRC Chairman Shirley Ann Jackson.

The letter was signed by Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey, Michigan Rep. John Dingell and Pennsylvania Rep. Ron Klink. It asked Jackson to investigate staffing practices and how they impact safety.

"Although it is very difficult to determine if specific examples of operator error are caused by fatigue, we believe that staffing and overtime are serious safety issues, and have concerns about both specific plant practices and about current NRC regulations," the lawmakers said.

Included in the query was a request for data on how many fatigue-induced errors occurred in plants over the past five years, and how many plant employees work longer than eight hours a day, or more than 40 hours in a week.

The NRC had no immediate response to the letter, but said they would respond in due time.

Lawmakers said the need to control staff working hours has been recognized since at least the early 1980s in the aftermath of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident 20 years ago. Citing a "generic" policy letter dating back to 1982, the House members said it was accepted that use of overtime for safety-related personnel on a temporary basis was allowable under strict guidelines, but that the objective was to have operating staff work a normal eight-hour day and 40-hour week.

They said a Feb. 15 issue of a nuclear industry newsletter described how operators of the Byron, Illinois, nuclear plant complained that too much overtime could jeopardize safety.

Byron Units 1 and 2, both at 1,105 megawatts, are owned by Commonwealth Edison, a unit of Unicom Corp. .

ComEd denied experiencing concerns about safety related to overtaxed workers, saying the company had actually cut overtime hours at the Byron units between 1997 and 1998, even though the plant underwent major steam generator and refueling maintenance.

"Our staffing is adequate and actually increased from 152 to 172 (for years 1995-98) at Byron," a ComEd spokesman said.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 1999

Answers

This is an interesting article, Ray, thanks! I was especially struck by the request for data on how many employees work longer than a 40 hour week, since my best friend's husband worked for over twenty-five years in a nuclear facility (up until about a year and a half ago) and in the last years the work load and the hours were so demanding there was nearly a revolt at the plant. (There were a lot of domestic issues, also, for men who practically lived at their job site.) I don't know how many nuclear facilities this occurs/occurred at, but I know it certainly did at one.

At the time, one surmisal the employees had (I have no idea if it was valid or not) was that management wanted to downsize the employee staff but union contracts inhibited them from a lot of direct action, so they deliberately stressed employees to the breaking point hoping they would quit or take an early retirement. Whether that surmisal had any validity to it or not, there were employees who left, citing the work load as a reason.

I'm sending this article to my friend. She and her husband will both be able to identify with the concerns. Thanks again for posting it.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 1999

Bonnie, tis I who should be thanking you for your tireless efforts on behalf of this forum and it's participants !!

Many Thanks, Ray

-- Anonymous, February 26, 1999

NOW FINALLY HERE'S AN ISSUE WE CAN ALL AGREE TO. (caps are for linda)

Everyone write your Senators, Representatives, President , Governor, Mayor, Barber and tell them that CL, FactFinder, Art, Chuck, Menno et al. are all way overworked, stressed out and DEMAND that they vote us all a big payraise, bonus, company car, new PC, use of the corporate jet etc...

(BIG GRIN)

-- Anonymous, February 26, 1999