Institute for Nuclear Power Operations

According to a study by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) as cited in the Department of Energy (DOE) Human Performance Manual (Volume 1 Concepts and principles, human performance improvement handbook, 2009), nine common weaknesses can serve as warning flags that may degrade a safety culture. The INPO concluded that these latent conditions are conducive to the degradation and accumulation of flawed controls and human-performance-related events . 

In October and November 2000,1 had the great privilege of attending a 5-week management seminar, Senior Nuclear Plant Management , at the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) in Atlanta, Georgia. This seminar consisted of 14 experienced people from nuclear power companies - 12 from the USA, one from France, and me. 

Nuclear Plant Reliability Data System Institute for Nuclear Power Operations Quarterly Reports... 

Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, INPO Guideline 85-031, "Guidelines for the Conduct of Technical Support Activities at Nuclear Power Facilities."... 

A program for system status and equipment control shall be developed by the WSRC, using guidelines from the Institute of Nuclear Power Operation (INRO) as set forth by Chapter 8 of the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations report, INPO 85-017 Guidelines for the Conduct of Operations at Nuclear Power Stations, "Control of Equipment and System Status" (Reference 1), and should contain the following elements ... 

Nuclear Plant Reliability Data System Annual Reports of Cumulative System and Component Reliability for Period from July 1, 1974, through December 31, 1982, NPRD A02/A03 (INPO 83-034), Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Atlanta, GA, October 1983. 

The reverse would be that insurance and other financial institutions would require demonstration of higher safety performance as a prerequisite for financing or underwriting risks. For example, in order to operate, nuclear power plants in the United States must demonstrate sufficient financial assurance to satisfy liability claims of members of the public for personal injury and property damage in the event of a catastrophic nuclear accident. Such insurance is available through the American Nuclear Insurers, which evaluates plant performance against objectives, criteria, and guidelines developed in conjunction with the U.S. NRC and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. A plant must receive a favorable report from this review before it can be insured. 

The incident at Unit 2 of the 3-Mile Island (Pennsylvania) reactor during March 28 to April 1, 1979, led to the formation of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The INPO sets objectives, guidelines, and criteria for aU U.S. -based nuclear power generating facilities. In 1985, this group established the National Academy for Nuclear Training, which accredits all plant operators and supervisors. 

An example of an existing computerized data source for nuclear power plants is the Nuclear Plant Reliability Data System (NPRDS) of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations [6]. Another example of power plant data collection and record keeping programme is given in Ref. [8]. 

Many reports have been published about the Fukushima accident, for example [1-7, 9-10]. These include reports by the Japanese Government and its official inquiries, the Japan Nuclear Technology Institute, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (in Atlanta, Georgia), and the World Health Organization. In the following a brief synopsis is presented of what happened and some key lessons learned. 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) http //www.inpo.info/ (accessed August 31, 2010). Established in 1979, INPO is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on safety and reliability in the operation of commercial nuclear power plants. 

FIG. 71. Objective tree for Levels 1-4 of defence in depth (IRS, Incident Reporting System WANO, World Association of Nuclear Operators INFO, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations). Safety principle (299) feedback of operating experience. 

Performance of the ROD is being assessed monthly, using several performance indicators for each of the five guiding principles. Various Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) and commercial industry performance indicators are used to enable objective monitoring of personnel and equipment performance for comparison against a set of stated goals. 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operation, INPO 85-017, Guidelines for the Conduct of Operations at Nuclear Power Stations, Chapter 8, "Control of Equipment and System Status," Rev.l, April 1988. 

Institute fo Nuclear Power Operations, INPO 85-038. Guidelines for the Conduct of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Stations.. Rey.O, October 1985. 

Institute,of Nuclear Power Operations, INPO. 85 001, "Performance Objectives and Criteria for Operating and Near-term Operating License Plants," Rev. 1, April 1990. 

Dupont committed to improving the reactor maintenance program at the Savannah River Site (SRS) based on the results of audits performed by the National Academy of Scientists and Engineers (NAS E) and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). In February 1989, Dupont issued an SRS-wide Maintenance Improvement Plan identifying eight key elements that were in need of improvement. One of these elements was the performance of a self-assessment by the Reactor Maintenance Department based on the elements identified in INPO 85-038, Guidelines for the Conduct of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Stations (Reference 1). The self-assessment was to include a review of (1) work control procedures, (2) maintenance requests, (3) supervision of maintenance activities, (4) review of completed maintenance requests, (5) temporary repairs, and (6) control of contractor personnel. This assessment (Reference 2) was completed in January 19.90. The results of the assessment, which were compared against draft DOE Order 5480, established the foundation for the Reactbr Maintenance Improvement Plan (MIP)(Reference 3), which was issued the end of April 1990. 

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