Qualification, certification and training systems of a Japanese nuclear power plant supplier

Training and indoctrination of personnel are very important for performing quality assurance activities in nuclear power plants. The paper presents policies, procedures and practices with regard to a training system for site construction workers, a training system for plant operation personnel at a special facility, and services and activities for operating plants. The training system for site workers and technicians offers basic training for all workers, and special training and qualification for field welders, cable-termination workers and non-destructive examination personnel. In addition to the qualification system for field welders applied by the regulatory body, a privat-company qualification system exists. Also, a training centre for BWR operators has been established. This facility has a simulator duplicating the main control room of an actual plant and a computer-assisted instruction system. Standard training courses, short-term basic courses, re-training courses, group training courses and special training courses are held at the training centre. Finally, the services and activities performed by Toshiba Corporation for operating plants are described. These activities of the plant supplier aim at keeping up and further enhancing the safety and reliability of operating plants and mainly consist of: (1) collection and evaluation of plant operation data, with re-evaluation and improvement of systems and components; (2) development of new maintenance techniques; (3) development of measures for reducing annual outage periods; and (4) plant emergency preparedness. (author)