Operating experience: Getting the most out of industry trends information

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) systematically assesses and screens all nuclear power reactor related events, reports and data to determine their significance and need for additional evaluation. This operating experience information is collected, evaluated, communicated and applied to support the NRC's goal of ensuring safety; to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and realism of NRC decisions; and to provide the public, Congress and other external stakeholders with accurate, timely and balanced information regarding operating experience, including actual or potential hazards to health and safety. The industry trends programme monitors trends in indicators of industry performance as a means to confirm that the safety of operating power plants is being maintained. The NRC assesses the safety significance and causes of any statistically significant adverse industry trends, determines if the trends represent an actual degradation in overall industry safety performance, and responds appropriately to any safety issues that may be identified. (author)