Facility's Stage in its Life-Cycle

DOE-STD-1027-92

In evaluating complexity, the SAR should consider the complexity of the person-

machine interface as well as the design and hardware of a facility. The preferred

approach is to provide for safety through engineered safeguards and not to rely on

administrative controls for safety. However, if the safety of the facility depends more

heavily on personnel to initiate, control, or perform safety functions than on the use of

automated safety devices, then the procedures and training of operators warrant more

detailed discussion in the SAR.

The remainder of this Standard provides additional guidance on the relationship

between complexity and the analysis techniques which are to be used in the SAR.

Facility's Stage in its Life-Cycle

The third consideration is the stage or stages of the facility life cycle for which SAR

approval is sought. For a new facility, the SAR covers the commitments for facility

design and construction. For a facility which merely seeks authorization to continue

operations, the SAR need not elaborate on completed phases of the project.

Information about safety decisions previously made, such as site selection, should be

developed only to support current and anticipated safety decisions. A SAR for a

facility near the end of its operating life and unlikely to be modified before retirement

need not develop safety engineering bases with the thoroughness expected of a SAR

for a facility which may be modified or extended in the future. When modifications are

performed or the facility mission is extended or changed, additional detail to support the

justification for the design adequacy will be required. For a facility which is partly shut

down and is used for only limited functions, the SAR should develop the basis for

confidence in the safety of the inactive portions of the facility and the safety basis for

the intended operations. The inactive portion of a facility should be evaluated to ensure

that the risks from the residual hazards (e.g., contamination, hazardous material

inventory) are evaluated and controlled.

All SARs should furnish information about subsequent stages of the facility life cycle

beyond that stage for which approval is sought, including end-of-life decontamination

and decommissioning. However, SARs need to develop this information only enough

to demonstrate that adequate attention is being given to anticipated future safety

problems. For facilities which are approaching decommissioning, the emphasis should

be on these remaining activities. Documentation provided on the operations being

phased out should be the minimum necessary to demonstrate the safety of the facility

during its remaining operating life, and future decontamination and decommissioning

activities.

4.1

Hazard and Accident Analysis

The Hazard Analysis process consists of the identification of the relative and absolute

hazards of the materials in a facility. The objective is to focus the safety assessment

effort on those hazards which have the potential to present significant, non-routine

concerns to the worker, the public, and the environment.