Safety attitudes identified during diagnostic evaluations

Since the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission established the Diagnostic Evaluation Program in 1987, it has conducted fifteen diagnostic evaluations (DEs) at selected operating U.S. reactor facilities. Diagnostic evaluations provide a broad-based and independent assessment of nuclear plant safety performance and involve technical, programmatic, management and orgrganizational aspects of plant operation. This paper presents significant evaluation findings and observations with emphasis on findings related to the nature and underlying causes of weaknesses in safety culture identified by diagnostic evaluation teams (DETs). Observations and analyses of the impact of safety culture on the performance of plant systems and equipment and the effectiveness of plant organizations and personnel are presented. Briefly described are the bases for selecting a plant for a DE, the goals and objectives of a DET, and the special features of a DE that make it different from other NRC team inspections. The information sources, analysis methods, and evaluation processes used by DETs are discussed. In particular, the methods for evaluating programmatic , management, and organizational effectiveness and root causes for performance problems are discussed. Finally, this paper provides insights and experience on the important factors that are necessary to ensure credibility , understanding and acceptance of observations on safety culture when communicating assessment results to nuclear plant management. (author)