Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

180
EVENT ANALYSIS AND
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
Analysis of
Events
The Kemeny Commission stressed the need for a systematic
gathering, review, and analysis of nuclear power plant
operational experience. INPO has been engaged in this important
activity since its inception. Presently, between 7,000 and
10,000 operational reports are screened each year. For example,
in 1985, 8,162 operational reports were reviewed. From this
extensive information, lessons are distilled that allow the
personnel at individual plants to learn from the operating
experience of the entire industry.
Events are screened for significance, and those with generic
applicability are disseminated to the industry in one or more of
the following forms:
o Significant Operating Experience Reports
o Significant Event Reports
o Operations and Maintenance Reminders
o Industry Safety Reports
o INPO special reports
o Workshops and seminar presentations
Of the number reports screened, some are identified as
significant in terms of nuclear safety or operational
reliability. The criteria for selecting these significant events
have remained essentially the same since 1981. There were 1.64
of these events per operating domestic reactor in 1981. This
level has declined steadily. In 1985, 0.53 significant events
per operating domestic reactor occurred. This threefold
reduction in the number of undesirable significant events is an
example of the effectiveness of the improvements put in place
since the accident at Three Mile Island.
When an operating event has significant safety implications for
the entire industry, INPO will comprehensively investigate and
analyze the event. The results incorporate recommendations, in
the form of Significant Operating Experience Reports, which
assist utilities in preventing such events from occurring
again. Since first issuing these reports in 1980, a total of 61
have been developed and distributed to INPO members and
participants. These reports are color-coded to aid in setting
priorities for the associated recommendations. The following
color-coding system is used:
o Red-tab operating experience reports are for immediate
attention. These reports cover events that may result
directly in the loss of means to effectively remove reactor
heat, inability to shut down the reactor and maintain it in
a shutdown condition, or extensive release of fission
products to the environment.
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