A reliability program approach to operational safety

Abstract

Abstract A Reliability Program (RP) model based on proven reliability techniques is being formulated for potential application in the nuclear power industry. Methods employed under NASA and military direction, commercial airline and related FAA programs were surveyed and a review of current nuclear risk-dominant issues conducted. The need for a reliability approach to address dependent system failures, operating and emergency procedures and human performance, and develop a plant-specific performance data base for safety decision making is demonstrated. Current research has concentrated on developing a Reliability Program approach for the operating phase of a nuclear plant's lifecycle. The approach incorporates performance monitoring and evaluation activities with dedicated tasks that integrate these activities with operation, surveillance, and maintenance of the plant. The detection, root-cause evaluation and before-the-fact correction of incipient or actual systems failures as a mechanism for maintaining plant safety is a major objective of the Reliability Program. Embodied within the approach are (1) determination of acceptable safety system performance criteria and associated alert levels: (2) tracing and/or trending of in-plant and industry systems performance and management of the associated surveillance, maintenance, and reportable event data base; (3) determination of risk-importance prioritized systems, components, and root-causes and ad hoc response to inplant safety problems or potentially applicable industry problems identified by NRC or INPO; and (4) a closed-loop failure reporting and corrective action program for correcting performance criteria violations or identified problems either through changes in operation or maintenance or through changes in utility management practices.