Life cycle planning for nuclear plant staffing

Current designs of new nuclear power plants include operational life cycles of 60 years. When the total life cycle of a new nuclear power program is considered, and includes all aspects from plant design selection to decommissioning, the total program duration may begin to approach 100 years. One hundred years of program duration requires multiple generations of workers. This paper will describe a process for considering staffing requirements for each phase of the nuclear power plant life cycle: 1) Plant Design Selection; 2) Site Selection; 3) Plant Licensing; 4) Construction; 5) Start Up/Testing; 6) Commercial Operations; 7) Shut Down/Safe Store; and 8) Decommissioning. During each of the eight life cycle phases, specific functional activities need to be performed. Thus, each phase has unique staffing requirements that must be analyzed to ensure safe and effective implementation of all required programs and activities. This paper will discuss the staffing functions relevant to each life cycle phase, and identify key drivers during each phase that directly impact staffing requirements for each of nine functional areas: 1) Operations; 2) Maintenance; 3) Work Management; 4) Radiation Protection; 5) Safety; 6) Regulatory Compliance; 7) Engineering and Technical Services; 8) Management and Support; and 9) Supply Chain. Issues surrounding management approaches will also be discussed, including the impacts of organizational design structures, out-sourcing, and work force planning. Additionally, potential impacts resulting from centralization and standardization across multiple nuclear plant sites will be discussed. (author)