The Discussion summary of this Information Notice states:

"Personnel errors appear to have caused, or contributed to, these three inadvertent reactor vessel draindown events. The likelihood of personnel errors is dependent upon the operator's knowledge of the task gained through previous experience and training. It is also dependent upon the quality of the procedures used to perform the task, the level of supervision, the adequacy of pre-job briefings, fatigue, and distractions resulting from multiple tasks. In each of the events, the plant staff made errors during a seldom-performed evolution. Because it was a seldom-performed evolution, more training, better pre-job briefings, closer supervision, and procedures that contain more details than those for frequently performed activities might have prevented these events."

I am glad for this alert. Let's hope that all nuclear power plants are instituting training and review for employees, addressing various infrequently performed tasks. When you consider that there is no "previous experience" for going through a potential simultaneous computer date problem on a national basis, and see the NRC's statement that "The likelihood of personnel errors is dependent upon the operator's knowledge of the task gained through previous experience and training," you can't doubt the seriousness of this Information Notice. And when you read, "In each of the events, the plant staff made errors during a seldom-performed evolution," it is understandable why people have concerns about the Year 2000 rollover at nuclear plants.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 1999

Answers

Good grief, I forgot the link again. Have to stop trying to answer the phone and type at the same time. Sigh.

For the entire notice go to:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/GENACT/GC/IN/1999/in99014.html

-- Anonymous, May 19, 1999