Operating Experience - hdbk1118990014

DOE-HDBK-1118-99

2.2.2 Operating Experience

The facility should incorporate operating experiences into continuing training programs. The

DOE Handbook for Implementing U.S. Department of Energy Lessons Learned Programs can

be of assistance in this effort.

A case study is one method used to learn from the experience of others. Many different

approaches and settings can be used with this method. Examples include group discussions

in the classroom and role playing in the laboratory and simulator setting. Case studies can be

prepared by the training organization or an industry experience review group and provided to

personnel to review and discuss. The DOE Guide to Good Practices for Developing and

Conducting Case Studies can be of assistance in this effort.

Another approach is to provide all the raw data concerning an event to an individual or team

attending the continuing training class. That individual or team will then analyze and present

the information to the whole class.

A third approach is to provide individuals with a role to play during an event scenario

conducted during a session. After the scenario, the instructor and the participants critique how

the role(s) played affected the results. A modification to this approach is to have instructors

play all roles in the scenario, videotape the session, and have the group observe the scenario

and develop their conclusions individually. The group then discusses the problem(s), the root

cause(s), and prevention or mitigation of the event consequences. A structured critique should

include problems observed, the factors (personalities, attitudes, procedures, facility design,

etc.) that affected the severity or mitigation of the event, and the short- and long-term

corrective actions that should be taken to prevent recurrence.