Insights into improving the efficacy of nuclear power plant inspection procedures based upon risk analysis. Final report

A preliminary study was conducted to determine how the insights gained through the Reactor Safety Study might be applied to improve the efficacy of nuclear power plant inspection activities. Abstracts of Licensee Event Reports and non-compliance citations for all operating plants for selected periods were reviewed to identify and classify performance deviations associated with risk-mitigating systems. Procedural deficiencies were observed to be an important factor in these deviations. Although no changes in the inspection program can be recommended as a result of this preliminary study, possible approaches to improving the efficiency of the inspection program were identified. Further study of the following areas is recommended: (1) the allocation of inspection effort based on the relationship of each inspection activity to the control of risk, (2) the use of Licensee Event Reports and non-compliance citations to identify the causal factors in performance deviations or as the basis for the evaluation of the risk-related performance of plants, and (3) the review of test and maintenance procedures for risk-mitigating systems to identify procedural inadequacies that lead to performance deviations